Pre-paration is everything:How harnessing the potential of pre-application engagement and planning performance agreements could improve planning outcomes

Successful urban planning within a local planning authority (LPA) requires certain prerequisites. This includes effective systems, processes, approaches, policy, regulatory constructs, and decision making. <br/>It also demands adequate capacity, resources, skills, and knowledge within the profession, and strong and positive relationships between stakeholders. These latter points have been in sharp focus recently. With a new government now in place, and further change ahead, it is now as important as ever to realise the value of existing systems, processes, and approaches that are aimed at maximising the effectiveness of planning praxis in these difficult times.