The WIDP planning systems guidance provides advice for projects on the constructive engagement with planning issues and identifies specific actions that will help facilitate favourable planning determinations and successful corresponding procurement outcomes. Examples of issues that the WIDP planning systems guidance covers include ensuring that there is a sufficient level of engagement with plan preparation at regional and local levels; underlining that sites are identified in accordance with PPS10; promoting early engagement with the planning process covering issues such as ensuring that base-line studies are planned for well in advance; and emphasising the need for good design to be incorporated into planning applications.
The WIDP planning systems guidance also addresses the issue of who should submit the planning application, i.e., whether the Authority should make a planning application in its own name; whether the application should be made jointly between the Authority and the Contractor; or whether the Contractor should make the planning application, the Authority having in advance progressed as far as practicable the necessary planning studies. WIDP does not promote any one approach over another concerning who should submit a planning application, as each is likely to have particular merits depending on the prevailing circumstances, and each approach will require a substantial amount of work by the Authority on planning issues. The WIDP Scrutiny Team will, however, agree with the Authority the appropriate approach for its particular procurement.