'The customer comes first - and the customer is the community'

'The planning industry must engage in the democratic process' , according to the Rt Hon Andrew Smith MP, Secretary of State for Work and Pensions. At a seminar hosted in Oxford by community relations specialists, Green Issues Communications, Mr Smith set out his vision for the future of the planning industry. Making it clear he was speaking in a personal capacity, Mr Smith told an audience of planners and planning officers of the need to put the community at the heart of the decision making process. He said:

'The maxim for the planning industry is this: the customer comes first - and the customer is the community'.

Warning of the dangers of a perceived gulf between planners and the public, Mr Smith said that community consultation was no longer an optional stage in the planning process. It is up to politicians and planners, he said, to show the public that development is not always bad for the local community.

Mr Smith used public concerns over the environmental impact of development to illustrate his point.

'We need to lose the mindset that growth is always at the expense of the environment'.

The minister argued that to achieve this change in public attitude, planners must make a commitment to sustainable growth. Mr Smith said the new Planning Bill would create just such a 'flexible and responsive system'.

Reacting to Mr Smith's speech, Tom Curtin, Managing Director of Green Issues Communications said:

'This confirms the view Green Issues has long held. Community consultation is key to the success of planning applications. We welcome the findings of the minister'.