Planning Act removes democratic decision making

At the end of November 2008 the Planning Bill completed the parliamentary process to become law.

This legislation removes a historic democratic decision-making process about major infrastructure projects such as nuclear power stations.

What will the Planning Act mean for me?

The Planning Act changes the way decisions are made about major infrastructure projects such as:

Airports and power stations
Pipelines and electric lines
Roads, ports and reservoirs

Decisions will now be made by the new Infrastructure Planning Commission, which will be appointed by Government.

The Act means that your involvement in the decision-making process will now look like this:

1. National Policy Statement consultation

A Government department will put a notice on their web site about a draft National Policy Statement to which you can respond in writing.

2. Developer runs pre-application consultation

You will be consulted on the application, but by the developer who has an interest in the application's success rather than by an independent body.

3. Examination

There won't necessarily be a public inquiry.

You will be able to write in to the Commissioners with your view on the application.

You may request an ‘open floor hearing'. But you won't be able to bring expert witnesses unless your property is affected.

4. Decision

The Commission will make the decision. There will only be a short time to bring a challenge to court.

What will the Planning Act mean for climate change?

New National Policy Statements will be developed by different Government departments on areas such as:

Fossil fuels
Nuclear power
Renewables
Ports
Airports

Thanks to your campaigning, the Government is now under an obligation to consider climate change, but how it will do this is unclear.

What happens next?

Secondary legislation and guidance will give more detail as to how the process will work. National Policy Statements will start coming out in 2009.

We need to ensure that all National Policy Statements consider climate change.

This will put us on the right track to start reducing emissions across major infrastructure as soon as possible.

Press for change

We will keep you updated about actions you can take to ensure that National Policy Statements consider climate change.

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