BARKER UP THE WRONG TREE?

05.12.06

Countryside campaigners CPRE [1] urged the Government not to undermine the planning system’s critical role in protecting the countryside and the environment following publication of a radical, HM Treasury-commissioned review by economist Kate Barker today (Tuesday). [2]

CPRE Chief Executive Shaun Spiers said: ‘We fear that some of her recommendations, if implemented, would speed up the rate at which new development sprawls over the countryside – to the detriment of us all.

‘Green Belts have never been entirely sacrosanct, nor should they be – but they are one of England’s most effective, best known and most popular planning tools. Kate Barker has recommended widespread reviews of Green Belt boundaries, and has proposed that the countryside within them can be improved in return for allowing some development on them.

‘We do need to improve the quality of some Green Belt land, but the primary role of the Green Belt is to prevent sprawl by keeping land open and undeveloped. We’ll be demanding that any changes to Green Belt boundaries and policy are strictly limited, fully justified and offer a very clear, overall environmental gain.’

CPRE also questions Kate Barker’s proposals that local households should be paid directly by developers to secure their backing for development schemes. ‘If this isn’t bribery, what is?’ said Shaun Spiers.

Overall, there is a worryingly strong emphasis in the review on enabling local councils and communities to reap more financial rewards from new development – in the belief that this will make them adopt more pro-growth and pro-development attitudes.

Shaun Spiers said: ‘If we go down this route, local councils and communities could end up finding they have sacrificed one of our greatest resources – beautiful, nearby countryside – for short term financial gain.’

One of Kate Barker’s most far-reaching recommendations is for the creation of an independent expert Planning Commission to examine the social, economic and environmental case, across England, for major development schemes covering transport, energy, waste disposal and water.

Last week’s The Eddington Transport Study [3] made a similar recommendation. CPRE believes this Commission could play an important advisory role – but it should not undermine the democratic basis of planning, or reduce the voice of local communities. We believe the final decision on consenting or refusing these big projects must remain with Cabinet Ministers.

We find several things to welcome in Kate Barker’s lengthy review. Despite the economic bias of its remit, it recognises that the planning system does have a critical, multi-faceted role in protecting the environment. It also makes the case for continuing to focus new development on under-used or derelict land within our existing towns and cities.

Any changes to the way in which planners assess the need for new superstores must not weaken the existing town centre first approach, says CPRE.

Last month’s report on climate change and economics by Sir Nicholas Stern, also commissioned by the Treasury, recognised that compact urban development could help reduce energy use and carbon emissions.

CPRE particularly welcomes Kate Barker’s call for there to be stronger incentives for recycling this ‘brownfield’ land back into use, and for disincentives on landowners for leaving it idle.

We also warmly agree with Kate Barker’s recommendations for more resources for local planners and the Government’s Planning Inspectorate, in order to help bring about improved and speedier decision making.

But this funding should not depend on approving more applications, more quickly, regardless of their environmental impacts.

Shaun Spiers concluded: ‘Whatever the Treasury may think, the purpose of planning is not just to give business quick, favourable decisions. It’s purpose is to advance the public interest – not least the protection of our environment and quality of life.

‘Given the Treasury’s steer to Kate Barker, her conclusions could have been much, much worse. All of Government, including the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, needs to take time to consider her report carefully.

‘Unless this happens, our fear is that her review could end up shifting the balance of our planning system away from protecting the environment and countryside and towards catering for developers’ profits. Long term, we would all lose out.’

NOTES FOR EDITORS

1. CPRE, the Campaign to Protect Rural England, is a charity which promotes the beauty, tranquillity and diversity of rural England. We advocate positive solutions for the long-term future of the countryside. Founded in 1926, we have 60,000 supporters and a branch in every county. President: Sir Max Hastings. Patron: Her Majesty The Queen.

2. Barker Review of Land Use Planning – Final Report, HM Treasury. In December 2005 Kate Barker, a Member of the Bank of England’s Monetary Policy Committee, was commissioned to conduct an independent review of the land use planning system by Chancellor Gordon Brown and Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott. She was tasked ‘to consider how, in the context of globalisation, and building on the reforms already put in place in England, planning policy and procedures can better deliver economic growth and prosperity alongside other sustainable development goals.’

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