Stop planning disaster
New Government proposals to make the planning system across the UK "more efficient" could have a disastrous effect on the environment and lead to communities being completely sidelined. The new proposals Planning White Paper will benefit big business and developers at the expense of local democracy. Major Infrastructure Projects such as new nuclear power stations, new runways, major road schemes and large waste incinerators will be streamlined and partially pre-approved by Westminster through new, powerful national statements of policy; and there will be little you can do about it.
This process will, through the use of these powerful National Statements, prevent you from objecting on grounds of need, safety and even location. Your right to be heard at Public Inquiries is set to be removed entirely.
The Planning White Paper also contains proposals that would make it easier for supermarkets to build giant out-of-town stores. The Government says it will wait for the outcome of the current Competition Commission inquiry into the power of supermarkets before it makes these changes. But the Competition Commission wants to make sure you can choose between an Asda or a Tesco. It does not seem to understand that people value having a diverse range of local shops. So there is a danger that the Competition Commission may support a relaxation in out of town supermarket development.
What is Friends of the Earth calling for?
Friends of the Earth is calling for a positive vision for planning, which gives people a powerful voice in what happens in their local area and promotes sustainable development. We are also calling on the Competition Commission Inquiry to reduce supermarket dominance and recommend stronger planning rules that promote a real choice of where to shop.
We believe that these two asks are vital in ensuring that local voice and local choice are protected for the benefit of your community. If current Government reforms go ahead unchallenged, there will be major impacts on local democracy, community rights and sustainable development.
What can I do?
Planning
Recently, (August 2007) a consultation on planning issues was held by the government. The consultation has now closed but it is still possible to contact your MP about planning issues. There is a briefing for MPs available from the Friends of the Earth website and it is also possible to send your MP a prewritten email from FoE's planning website.
Friends of the Earth has produced an alternative vision for the future of planning called "A better plan: an alternative view of the land use planning system".
A useful future reference for York will be the Local Development Framework. This is currently still under development. For details of the current situation see
www.york.gov.uk/environment/Planning/Local_development_framework
For further information please visit www.YourPlanningRights.co.uk or phone Julian Kirby at Friends of the Earth on 020 7566 1698 to find out what you can do.
See also www.planningdisaster.co.uk
The government White Paper: Planning for a sustainable Future can be found at
http://www.communities.gov.uk/index.asp?id=1510503
and the consultation at http://www.communities.gov.uk/index.asp?id=1510731