Archived press release

New map highlights massive building plans for England and Wales

3 August 2007

An online map highlighting the location of over one hundred new developments that could be forced through if the Government gets its way over changes to the planning system is being launched today (3 August). The map was developed by The Planning Disaster Coalition and includes information on new nuclear power stations, incinerators and roads. It was designed to help people find out how changes to the planning system could affect their area.

The interactive map, which can be viewed at www.planningdisaster.co.uk [1], allows people to zoom into maps or satellite pictures of England and Wales to identify the location of potential developments including:

• Super-incinerators at Ince Marshes in Cheshire and Peterborough in the East of England
• Up to ten nuclear power plants around the UK including reactors at Sizewell in Suffolk, Calderhall in Cumbria and Hartlepool,
• Airport expansions at Birmingham, Bristol, East Midlands, Heathrow and Stansted,
• Major road schemes including M6 widening between Staffordshire and Cheshire, and a new road bridge across the River Mersey
• A major reservoir at Abingdon in Oxfordshire

The current planning system allows people to be part of the decision making process. They can have their say on proposals for major developments such as new roads or nuclear power stations. But reforms proposed in the Government's White Paper on planning will remove the public's democratic right to challenge projects at public inquiry. Planning decisions will also be taken out of the hands of accountable politicians and handed over to an unelected, unaccountable new body called the Infrastructure Planning Commission.

Planning Disaster, a coalition of Britain's leading environment organisations representing over five million members, is concerned that the changes will allow developers to push through major projects that could have a catastrophic impact on communities, the countryside and the wider environment. It is calling on the Government to rethink the Planning White Paper and introduce a planning system which allows people a real and meaningful say in how their area is developed.

Planning Disaster Coalition Coordinator Owen Espley said:

"We developed the planning disaster map so that people can see how changes to the planning system could affect their area. The map shows many major new developments which could be forced through by Government - with local people effectively prevented from having a say. Anyone who is concerned can email the Government at www.planningdisaster.co.uk".

The Planning Disaster Coalition has made it easy for the public to make their voice heard in the Government consultation. All they need to do is send the Government an email via www.planningdisaster.co.uk. The deadline is 17th August.

Note

The Planning Disaster Coalition's members include, Airport Watch, CPRE, Civic Trust, Council For National Parks, Enoughs Enough, Friends of The Earth, The Grasslands Trust, The National Trust, nef (The New Economics Foundation), the Ramblers' Association, Restore UK, the RSPB, Transport 2000, UKRIGS, The Wildlife Trusts, and The Woodland Trust.

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