ABSTRACT
The research discussed in this chapter was founded on one principal hypothesis. Namely, that the direct and indirect roles of central government through the use of its national Planning Policy Guidance Notes had increased significantly since the introduction of the plan-led planning system. As has already been noted in Chapter 5, the dearth of evidence of an investigative nature in this area necessitated a large-scale empirical piece of quantitative research that attempted to assess the national position across England and Wales. The research took the form of a survey of all district planning authorities in England and Wales and focused on the formulation and implementation of planning policies under the new planning regime. A request was made for each survey questionnaire form to be completed by a senior member of staff within the planning department who had direct knowledge of both the forward planning (policy formulation) and the development control (policy implementation) functions. In the majority of cases, therefore, the surveys were completed by chief or senior planning officers. The survey was directed to all 401 district authorities in England and Wales: 296 English nonmetropolitan districts, 37 Welsh districts, and 68 London and metropolitan boroughs. A survey of a single, coherent data group eradicated any sampling bias. Under the Town and Country Planning Act 1990, non-metropolitan districts in England and Wales are required to prepare district-wide local plans that focus on detailed land use policies and allocations. The London and metropolitan boroughs prepare unitary development plans, part II of which is identical to a nonmetropolitan local plan. From April 1996, following completion of this particular research project, local government in Wales, in Scotland and in certain areas in England underwent reorganisation with the result that the planning policy framework in these areas has also been amended. The reorganised authorities are now required to prepare unitary development plans similar to those of metropolitan areas. See Harris and Tewdwr-Jones (1995) and Clotworthy and Harris (1996) for further discussion.
