Alison Reeves, our Deputy Chief Executive, talks about our response to the Government’s consultation on national planning policy and considers whether engaging with planning could help address some of the challenges to the infrastructure members use for music making and concerts.
Making Music’s #MakeSpaceForMusic campaign was launched last year in response to the increasing challenges to spaces for music in all our communities. We believe that every community should have accessible, available and affordable spaces for music making. We’re concerned these spaces are becoming less available in existing communities, and that community space is not well considered in areas of new housing. But the spaces our members use for music are so varied, and most of those are not in the control of the local authority – churches and church halls are used for 54% of members rehearsals and 62% of member performances (as revealed in The Big Survey 2022). So what can we realistically ask Local and Central Government to do to make a difference? We wondered whether the answer lies in the planning system.
One of the first actions of the new Labour Government was to announce an overhaul of the planning system. In July, less than a month from the first meeting of the new parliament they launched a consultation on their proposed reforms to the National Planning Policy Framework with the main stated aim being ‘tackling the housing crisis’. This document – which only applies in England – advises local planning authorities (usually district or county councils) and developers on what they can and cannot do when planning developments. There are already references to the spaces members use in that framework. In a chapter on ‘Promoting healthy and safe communities’ it advises:
‘To provide the social, recreational and cultural facilities and services the community needs, planning policies and decisions should: a) plan positively for the provision and use of shared spaces, community facilities (such as local shops, meeting places, sports venues, open spaces, cultural buildings, public houses and places of worship) and other local services to enhance the sustainability of communities and residential environments.’
The Government hasn’t proposed a change to this advice, or any other changes that would significantly impact the spaces member’s need. But we know that responding to consultations is an excellent way of ensuring that members’ interests are heard by Government, so we’ve responded to present a case for creating and sustaining the infrastructure members need to make music.
The key points made were (in response to the specific questions asked):
- Public service infrastructure – which includes schools and FE Colleges – should be prioritised in planning. These buildings should include spaces suitable for music, that could be hired affordably out of teaching time
- Transport planning should enable people to travel to rehearsals and concerts by public transport; that it is available, reliable and affordable including on weekday and weekend evenings
- Music making and concert attendance have proven health benefits, so planning for spaces for music supports the vision of ‘healthy communities’. Protections of spaces for music – and obligations to plan for new spaces – should be given equal weight to those for sports facilities.
If you are involved in local planning, or if you are concerned about a space for music in your community, we’re keen to hear from you. Could national planning policy be a useful lever to ensuring we all have spaces to make and enjoy music?
Find out more about our #MakeSpaceForMusic campaign and if you have any questions, please contact Alison Reeves at alison@makingmusic.org.uk
