Localism & Decentralisation

FoE's Localism Bill is pressing for your right to have a say in planning decision-making, and for planning to deliver on sustainable development and climate change. Under its 'Big Society' agenda the Government plans to empower local people to make decisions in their local area. Sounds good, eh! However, what it fails to mention is that local democracy and action to tackle climate change will be undermined by the Bill.

• Costs: The new neighbourhood planning system will need to be paid for by local communities from out of their own pockets. Not all communities may be able to afford to write a neighbourhood plan.
• Climate Change: The bill does not give clear guidelines for sustainable development, failing to promote a low-carbon future.
• Shifting power: Neighbourhood Plans will now be examined by an independent person and no longer involve the Local Council or Planning Inspectorate.
• Weaker Voice: People will no longer have the right to be heard in person at any inquiry on a Neighbourhood Plan

For more details see: www.foe.co.uk/news/localism_bill_26485.html

FoE Briefing
Friends of the Earth is calling for key elements of the Localism Bill to be substantially improved in order to deliver the fair and green planning system that both local communities and the planet need. This briefing sets out Friends of the Earth's analysis of the Bill and proposals for improving it. Proposed changes are designed to enable meaningful involvement for local people in decisions
affecting them and their area, and for effective planning to help address the big issues of the day - creating a truly sustainable economic recovery, effective action on climate change and restoring our hard pressed natural environment.

Second Reading and Committee Stages
Friends of the Earth is calling for MPs to speak on the improvements needed to the Bill at Second Reading, scheduled for 17th January 2011; and to propose amendments at Committee and later stages of the Bill. Localism Bill - summary and comments
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Communities to pay: The Bill introduces the welcome concept of Neighbourhood Planning (clauses 96-101) and creates a new community planning system which would be paid for by communities (clause 97).
Comment: The cost burden of these plans is proposed to fall on local communities. Charging in this way potentially restricts Neighbourhood Planning to
those communities most able to afford to plan. This raises concerns of creating a new planning system which is not equally accessible to all communities unless they can afford to pay for qualified, impartial and reliable advice.
Removing the need for permission: Community plans will become Neighbourhood
Development Orders (NDOs) removing the need for planning permission if the application is in line with the Orders. Developers would be required to carry out pre-application consultation (clause 61W). Comment: This could remove people's opportunity to comment on planning applications, and democratic accountability for decision-making on these applications, other than through consultations run by developers themselves.
Presumption in favour of 'sustainable' development: In the absence of a Neighbourhood Plan, where a community decides not to draft one (or cannot afford to - see above) the Bill creates a presumption in favour of 'sustainable' development. Comment: 'Sustainable' development is not defined on the face of the Bill although there is an established definition in the UK SD Strategy. This could leave the door open for developers to bring forward inappropriate schemes inconsistent with efforts to develop in truly sustainable ways.
Larger than local matters: The demise of the regional tier of planning makes it more important for the bill to set out how local action on planning will also ensure action on 'larger than local' commitments such as reducing carbon in line with science, restoring our natural environment and boosting renewable energy.
Comment: The Bill falls short on tackling those issues which rely on local action but which cannot be dealt solely locally.