Archived press release

Planning shake-up threat to environment

6 December 2001

FOE Lawyers to Study Details

Government plans to speed up the planning process will be one of the biggest blows to environmental protection and citizens rights for many years, Friends of the Earth warned today. The environmental campaign group said that it's lawyers would closely study the proposals, due to be published in a Green Paper in the next few days.

Over recent weeks the Government has made it clear that it wants to fast-track the planning system for major projects such as airports, roads, ports and nuclear power stations. This would mean that public inquiries - like the one currently considering a massive port development at Dibden Bay [1] -would no longer be held into such controversial projects. Initial approval would be given by Ministers, with Parliament making the key decision. Public inquiries would not question the need for the development and only deal with local details. Friends of the Earth believes this will be bad news for the environment and citizens rights.

The Government has highlighted the 'delay' in approving Terminal 5 as a reason for fast-tracking planning - even though most delay was caused by either the Government and BAA, not the objectors. Only 10 projects in the past 15 years had public inquiries lasting more than 3 months.

Hugh Ellis, Planning Campaigner at Friends of the Earth said:

“These new plans are a massive blow to environmental protection. The system is already stacked in favour of developers, now it seems that even people's limited right to object to controversial developments in their area is to be curtailed. If the Government gets its way, local communities will only have a say over what colour to paint the gates at the new nuclear power station Parliament has decided will be built in their area.”

"Friends of the Earth will be pulling out the stops to fight these proposals. Our lawyers will be examining the details very closely when they are finally published.”

[1] A Public Inquiry into plans by Associated British Ports to build a massive 202 hectare super-port at Dibden Bay, an internationally important wildlife site, began last week. The project is opposed by local people and environmental groups including Friends of the Earth. Dibden Bay is the type of project that the Government wants to fast-track.

FOE has produced briefings on Planning; Dibden Bay and the 'delays' at Terminal 5

If you're a journalist looking for press information please contact the Friends of the Earth media team on 020 7566 1649.

Published by Friends of the Earth Trust