Planning decision-making: independence, subsidiarity, impartiality and the state

This paper explores recent changes that involve the Planning Inspectorate in England, considering as part of this the relevance and value of independence and impartiality in effective decision-making, together with a consideration of the significance of these changes in the context of localism and the subsidiarity narrative. To inform this debate, this paper focuses upon the value of having an independent body for planning decisions through a comparison with the Planning Appeals Commission (PAC) in Northern Ireland. The paper points towards the potential need for change in the structural approach and arrangements of the system in England, drawing particularly upon the PAC as a potential model for consideration.