Planning changes a disaster for the environment

Government plans for a radical changes in the planning system, announced today, are disastrous for local people and the environment, says Friends of the Earth Cymru.

The changes proposed in yesterday's Planning Green Paper the planning system would lead to the biggest removal of rights ever seen in the British planning system. For example, it proposes removing the right for people to have their objections to local development plans heard at a public inquiry. Next week the Government is to publish details of its plans for Parliament to approve the building of major infrastructure projects [1] such as nuclear power stations, ports and airports. Public inquiries would only consider minor details of the proposed development.

The announcement also:

• sets up business zones where planning regulations won't apply;
• strips away important national policy on issues such as nature conservation;
• fails to address the lack of a community right of appeal, which is currently enjoyed by would-be developers, but not local people.

Neil Crumpton, campaigner at Friends of the Earth Cymru said:

"Today's announcement is even worse than we feared. The Government has caved in to the demands of developers and the CBI. This is one of the biggest blows to environmental protection and democracy in the last 50 years."

"Overhauling the planning system was a golden opportunity to deliver sustainable development. But New Labour has blown it. And with plans to fast-track major infrastructure projects still be published, things can only get worse."

FOE is campaigning for a democratic, transparent and strategic planning system which will benefit everyone.

Notes

1) The Government is due to announce its proposal on major infrastructure projects on Monday 17 December. A briefing outlining FOE's concerns is available.