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Barker Planning Review will undermine local democracy warns Friends of the Earth
4 December 2006
The Barker Review on English land use planning will have a devastating impact on the environment and local democracy, Friends of the Earth warned today (Monday 4 December).
Kate Barker's report, due to be published tomorrow, is expected to recommend major reforms to England's planning system that will give business, in particular supermarket chains, a greater say in planning decisions.
The Review, which was commissioned by the Treasury, focuses exclusively on how recent planning reforms affect business and how the system can be improved for their benefit. The review team was not asked to consider other functions of planning such as protection of the environment or ensuring communities have a say on local developments.
An increasing number of businesses recognise the role the planning system plays in creating certainty and transparency in the development process and are concerned that further deregulation of the planning system will lead to chaos.
The Government has already committed to a new White Paper on planning in March that will implement the Barker Review's recommendations.
Friends of the Earth's Planning Advisor, Hugh Ellis, said:
"Local communities will be the big loser if the Barker Review is implemented. Barker's vision of uncontrolled development will mean communities have little or no say in how their local area is developed. The Government must ensure that people have a say on the future of their communities and their environment."
Notes
Kate Barker began her review of England's land use planning system in January 2006. An interim report was published in July 2006.
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Published by Friends of the Earth Trust
Last modified: Jun 2008
