Progress in Planning
1 total work
This research centres on the implementation of settlement policies guiding the erection of agricultural dwellings in the countryside. The research methodology employed different theoretical perspectives which sought to recognize the complex and often contentious nature of policy implementation and the key role played by particular actors. The policy framework is characterised as possessing deficiencies attributed to the origins of the policy as an uneasy compromise between the interests of agriculture and other claims on the use of the countryside. The research shows that in practice a significant proportion of applications for agricultural dwellings did not meet clear policy criteria. However, the overwhelming majority of such applications were nonetheless supported by councillors, often to the extent of overturning recommendations for refusal on policy grounds. Particularly prominent in that decision - making role were those rural councillors from an agricultural background who shared similar "interests-in-land" as applicants and who exercised a disproportionate influence in the determination of such applications.
Such interests of the agricultural landowner were found to be in conflict with the officer interpretation of the "public-interest". Recommendations from the research include increased third party involvement in decision-making, tighter monitoring of decisions considered contrary to policy and further liasion between academics and practitioners in analysing the impact of land use planning.
Such interests of the agricultural landowner were found to be in conflict with the officer interpretation of the "public-interest". Recommendations from the research include increased third party involvement in decision-making, tighter monitoring of decisions considered contrary to policy and further liasion between academics and practitioners in analysing the impact of land use planning.