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15 Jul 2002
Chancellor Gordon Brown today announced controversial plans to relax planning controls as part of his report on the Government’s Comprehensive Spending Review. Mr Brown’s statement is likely to be the first of a number of expected announcements on controversial planning and development issues, before the House of Common’s enters its summer recess on 24 July. The Chancellor promised new “Planning Zones” where no planning control would apply. (can we mention 2000 figure quoted in FT last week) , as well as moves to encourage new airport capacity.
These changes mean that major developments could face weak planning
laws and could be pushed through at the expense of the quality of life
for people, in particular in the South East. Other regions will also
lose out as the South East becomes the main focal point of the national
economy, widening the inequalities that already exist with other regions.
The planning system must not be blamed for the Government's failure
to deliver sustainable development through its economic policy. It has
failed to curb the over heating of the South East. A recent Government
Committee on planning criticised the Government's theory that the planning
system inhibits economic growth as based on "anecdote and prejudice''.
Hugh Ellis, Planning Campaigner at Friends of the Earth said:
"It seems a ridiculous piece of limelight-hogging for
the Chancellor to give a statement on planning issues,
when the Deputy Prime Minister is due to make an announcement about
highly controversial changes to the planning system only a few days
later. People may rightly question who was
in charge of this important issue.
Allowing big business to concrete over large parts of the South East would be extremely bad news for local communities and the environment. The Chancellor should concentrate on tackling the long term problem of the widening inequalities between the South East and other regions, and on promoting sustainable economic development. Planning new airports and sacrificing the greenbelt is a poor and damaging substitute."
Contact details:
Friends of the Earth
26-28 Underwood St.
LONDON
N1 7JQ
Tel: 020 7490 1555
Fax: 020 7490 0881
Web: www.foe.co.uk/feedback.html
Media team
