Gap remains between Government’s rhetoric and reality on planning reform

27 November 2007

A coalition of conservation, environmental and civic organisations [1], supported by more than five million people, have expressed their deep concerns about the Government’s Planning Reform Bill, published today (Tuesday). [2]

Despite 32,000 individual responses to its consultation on the Planning White Paper during the summer, the Government has, as anticipated, made few significant changes to its original proposals. The vast majority of these responses were from ordinary members of the public, expressing their concerns that the proposals threaten local democracy, communities and the environment, and calling on the Government to think again. [3]

Owen Espley, coalition co-ordinator, said:

‘The decision to press ahead despite these concerns suggests that the Government is not interested in being fully accountable for major decisions. We are also concerned that the right to be heard is limited - hardly encouraging when the planning process should be about listening to and taking account of the views of individuals and communities, and ensuring that all the evidence is fully examined.’

The coalition is calling on Ministers to revise their flawed proposals. Ministers should maintain credible and democratic decision-making in the process and ensure that development is truly sustainable.

Owen Espley said:

‘We hope that MPs will use the debates on the Bill to champion democracy, accountability and sustainable development, and reject proposals that sideline communities and the environment.’

Editor’s notes

1.The members of the coalition are AirportWatch, Campaign for Better Transport, Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE), Campaign to Protect Rural Wales (CPRW), the Civic Trust, Council for National Parks, Enough’s Enough, Friends of the Earth, the Grasslands Trust, The National Trust, the Ramblers, the RSPB, UKRIGS, The Wildlife Trusts and the Woodland Trust.

2.It is expected that between now and Christmas, the Planning Reform Bill will be given a second reading in the House of Commons, before detailed examination begins in Committee in the New Year.

3.The Government’s proposals for planning reform include: national statements on major infrastructure projects that do not properly involve local people; establishment of an unelected infrastructure planning commission that will make decisions on development projects that should be the responsibility of democratically elected Ministers; the restriction of people’s involvement in public inquiries; a downgrading of local and environmental considerations in decision-making, and changes to local planning.

For more information on the campaign against proposals in the Planning Reform Bill, visit www.planningdisaster.co.uk.

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