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Help ensure new planning laws benefit the environment
Radical proposals for changing the planning system in England (and for major energy projects in Wales) have been put forward by the Government in its Planning Bill currently going through Parliament.
The proposals involve a new way of planning for major infrastructure projects such as airports, ports, roads, power stations, windfarms and reservoirs.
Serious concerns
We have serious concerns about the effects of the proposals on wildlife, the wider countryside and people's ability to have a say in proposals that affect their local environment. Some projects are also likely to be major sources of carbon emissions, threatening efforts to reduce emissions.
As a member of the Better Planning Coalition, we have helped create a map of all the potential major infrastructure projects that could pass through the proposed planning process. The Planning Disaster website has further details on these projects.
The Bill takes forward the proposals in the Planning White Paper (May 2007) for major infrastructure projects. The Government received over 32,000 responses to its Planning White Paper consultation during the summer, the vast majority of which expressed concern over the plans. Many thanks to those of you who wrote in.
Despite this huge level of public concern, it appears that the Government is pressing ahead with its original proposals, with only limited concessions seen so far.
What to put in your letter
One of the most damaging impacts of the proposals would be to your power to act in the best interests of your neighbourhood, and be a voice for nature.
Please write to your MP, asking that changes to the planning system include:
- Sustainable development must be a duty on the Commission, not just ministers. Three years ago, the Government launched the UK Sustainable Development Strategy, establishing the twin goals of living within environmental limits and providing a just society by means of a sustainable economy, good governance and sound science. We welcome the duty placed on ministers, but the principles of the Strategy should apply to all public bodies, yet there is no mention of this in the Bill with regard to the Commission. The duty must be robust in its wording, and the Bill should include arrangements for monitoring and reporting on the achievement of the duty
- An Infrastructure Planning Commission should not make decisions. Under the new system a new, unelected body, the Infrastructure Planning Commission ('the Commission') would decide the fate of major infrastructure planning proposals after a public inquiry. However, the need for the project cannot be debated. The Commission should not be created at all. The decision-making process should be democratically accountable, allow proper public engagement, and the robust testing of evidence. The current Bill does not include such provisions for the Commission
- National policy statements must be robustly assessed and consulted upon. Clear national policy is essential to the proper planning of the country's infrastructure needs. Integrated national policy statements could be a first step towards an integrated national approach to planning. However, the Bill fails to ensure that all policy statements will be robustly assessed for their environmental impacts or that there will be a consistent and effective approach to public consultation
- Inquiry procedures must provide effective rights for the public. The Bill provides a duty for developers of infrastructure to consult affected people and communities before submitting applications, but no meaningful opportunity for communities to have their say on proposals at inquiries. There may be opportunities to appear at an 'open floor' session, but no right to cross-examine in order to test important evidence. These measures, along with the lack of accountability of the Commission's final decision, mean that the process will lack public legitimacy
The House of Commons Report stage is likely to take place in May. Please make sure your MP receives your letter as soon as possible.
Where to send your letter
You can find out who your MP is using the link to the side of this page, or by telephoning the House of Commons Public Information Office on 020 7219 4272. All MPs can be reached in writing at House of Commons, London, SW1A 0AA.
To help us monitor the progress of our campaign, please send copies of your letters, and any replies to: Sarah Colwell, Planning Bill Campaign, FREEPOST ANG6335, The RSPB, UK Headquarters, The Lodge, Sandy, Bedfordshire, SG19 2BR. You can also e-mail: campaigns@rspb.org.uk.
Taking the time to write a letter can make all the difference, thank you very much for your support.
Last modified: 07 February 2008