Planning guidelines - a step forward, but good enough?28 March 2012
The Government unveiled its new planning guidelines yesterday, predictably cutting out pages of detail.
Less predictably it included a definition on what sustainable development means - something Friends of the Earth has been calling for.
When guidelines for development are whittled from 1,300 pages to just 50, there is cause for deep concern.
And with the release of the document - peppered 60 times with the term "sustainable development" - there is still cause for deep concern.
But, a positive
The Government's draft guidelines didn't really explain what sustainable development meant - claiming the default answer to development should be "yes".
But the new guidelines do include a definition. Friends of the Earth's Campaigns Director Craig Bennett was careful to point out though that this alone won't prevent bad planning:
"Including a strong definition of sustainable development is an important step, but this is undermined by confusing and contradictory information in the rest of the document."
"Ministers must make it crystal clear that the new planning system will encourage the low-carbon infrastructure and affordable homes our nation needs."
The planning system must prevent poor-quality developments that waste water and increases our reliance on expensive fossil fuels.
Craig Bennett, Campaigns Director, Friends of the Earth
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