Planning and regional policy

Planning and regional policy

About planning

Dartford warbler singing from flowering gorse bush

Homes, businesses, roads, ports - we rely on them all, but sometimes new development can have a damaging effect on birds, wildlife and the wider environment.

For example, proposed housing development in Dorset threatened an internationally important heathland. It was feared the housing adjacent to the heathland could place intolerable pressures on its special wildlife, including Dartford warblers, nightjars and sand lizards. These pressures would have included fire, disturbance by people and dogs, vandalism and cat predation.

Damaging developments tend to be the result of an ineffective planning system, or where planning policies don’t give sufficient weight to the environment or are poorly implemented. 

Major development projects that pursue economic growth at all costs can also cause environmental damage. Usually, the problem comes down to environmental concerns not being properly integrated by public authorities into the decision-making process.

Major development projects that pursue economic growth at all costs can also cause environmental damage

In the UK, decision-making is complicated by the fact that there are different planning systems in each country – England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. In England, there are also proposals to devolve planning powers to regional assemblies.

The RSPB lobbies government – including the Scottish Executive and Welsh Assembly Government – to make sure that UK planning systems and policies protect the environment and promote development that is truly sustainable. 

We also lobby government to ensure that the powers and duties of English regional assemblies will promote sustainable development. We promote good practice among local planning authorities, with an emphasis on planning for biodiversity and the use of environmental assessment techniques.

European, regional and local

At a European level, the RSPB works with our BirdLife International partners to lobby the European Commission on the reform of structural funds, to ensure they are spent in a way that achieves environmental objectives, at the same time as economic and social objectives. The structural funds provide billions of Euros of support each year for social, economic and environmental improvement in the EU, especially in its poorest member states.

At a regional and local level in the UK, we comment on plans and individual projects that may have significant impacts on birds and biodiversity. If necessary, we will fight our case at public inquiries, as in the case of the Dorset housing on heathland, which was defeated in July 2002. 

In extreme circumstances, we will take our case to the courts. Our preference, however, is for a positive planning system that delivers the right development, in the right place, at the right time.

Last modified: 13 September 2004