Worries over sustainability of streamlined planning

26th July 2011


Related Topics

Related tags

  • Management ,
  • Local government ,
  • Construction

Author

IEMA

Environmental groups have come out against the government's draft national planning policy framework (NPPF) claiming it doesn't offer the same level of protection for the environment as existing rules.

Published yesterday (25 July 2011) by planning minister Greg Clark, the framework condenses more than 1,000 pages of what he describes as “impenetrable” government policy down to just 52 pages.

“We need a simpler, swifter system that is easier to understand and where you don't need to pay for a lawyer to navigate your way around,” argued Clark launching a 12-week consultation into the proposed planning framework.

“The draft proposals set out national planning policy more concisely, and in doing so make clearer the importance of planning to safeguarding our extraordinary environment and meeting the needs of communities, now and in the future.”

At the heart of the government’s pledge to protect current and future needs of both society and the environment is a presumption in favour of sustainable development.

While the government argues this presumption offers the necessary protection to safeguard the UK’s natural environment and resources, groups including the National Trust and the Campaign to Protect Rural England have strongly criticised the NPPF’s overall positive stance in relation to approving developments.

The framework states that the default position for local authorities should be to “approve all individual proposals wherever possible” and that “significant weight should be placed on the need to support economic growth through the planning system.”

Dame Fiona Reynolds, the director general of the National Trust, responded to the publication of the draft NPPF arguing that the framework turned the whole planning system on its head.

“Our planning system was created to protect our beautiful countryside and guide development to where it was needed and cause least damage… both the tone and the words [of the draft framework] are sending a very different message: that planning is to promote growth and not protect the environment,” she said.

Reynolds went on to argue that while the current planning process, “as we have known and loved it”, needed small improvements the “wholesale shift” towards a positive stance towards development was not going to help the country.

The Wildlife Trusts, which voiced concerns over the NPPF ahead of its publication, also said it was worried that the government was putting economic aims of ahead of its environmental commitments.

“It raises serious concerns for us that the ongoing restoration of the natural environment, critical for [the economy’s] future recovery, could be hindered,” said Paul Wilkinson, head of living landscape for the Wildlife Trusts.

Environmental group Friends of the Earth (FoE) described the proposed policy as a “developers charter”.

"Behind some nice buzz words the planning system is now so loaded in favour of building projects that it puts local communities and environmental protection in jeopardy,” warned FoE campaigner Paul de Zylva.

While welcoming the proposals for a more streamlined planning system, IEMA agreed that questions remain about what the government views as sustainable development.
“There is a clear emphasis being placed on the approval of planning applications, with the risk that environment impacts will continue to be traded-off against the potential for economic and social gains,” said director of policy Martin Baxter director of policy.

The reaction from business leaders was much more positive, with the CBI describing the NPPF as a sending a clear message that environmental sustainability is compatible with economic growth and could rebuild investor confidence in the planning system.

Business secretary Vince Cable confirmed the NPPF was a key element in the government’s plan for growth.

"The new approach to planning will be a significant step forward in creating the right conditions for businesses to start up, invest, grow and create jobs," he said.

To read the full draft NPPF and for details of the consultation visit the Department for Communities and Local Government website.

Subscribe

Subscribe to IEMA's newsletters to receive timely articles, expert opinions, event announcements, and much more, directly in your inbox.


Transform articles

IEMA Impact: Shaping a sustainable future with impact assessment

Lisa Pool on how IEMA is shaping a sustainable future with impact assessment

27th November 2023

Read more

IEMA responded in September to the UK government’s consultation on the details of the operational reforms it is looking to make to the Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects (NSIP) consenting process as put forward in the NSIP reform action plan (February 2023).

24th November 2023

Read more

Members of IEMA’s Impact Assessment Network Steering Group have published the 17th edition of the Impact Assessment Outlook Journal, which provides a series of thought pieces on the policy and practice of habitats regulations assessment (HRA).

26th September 2023

Read more

In July, we published the long-awaited update and replacement of one of IEMA’s first published impact assessment guidance documents from 1993, Guidelines for the Environmental Assessment of Road Traffic.

1st August 2023

Read more

Are we losing sight of its intended purpose and what does the future hold for EIA? Jo Beech, Tiziana Bartolini and Jessamy Funnell report.

15th June 2023

Read more

Luke Barrows and Alfie Byron-Grange look at the barriers to adoption of digital environmental impacts assessments

1st June 2023

Read more

Susan Evans and Helen North consider how Environmental Statements can be more accessible and understandable

1st June 2023

Read more

IEMA’s Impact Assessment Network is updating its advice note on non-technical summaries (NTS).

31st May 2023

Read more

Media enquires

Looking for an expert to speak at an event or comment on an item in the news?

Find an expert

IEMA Cookie Notice

Clicking the ‘Accept all’ button means you are accepting analytics and third-party cookies. Our website uses necessary cookies which are required in order to make our website work. In addition to these, we use analytics and third-party cookies to optimise site functionality and give you the best possible experience. To control which cookies are set, click ‘Settings’. To learn more about cookies, how we use them on our website and how to change your cookie settings please view our cookie policy.

Manage cookie settings

Our use of cookies

You can learn more detailed information in our cookie policy.

Some cookies are essential, but non-essential cookies help us to improve the experience on our site by providing insights into how the site is being used. To maintain privacy management, this relies on cookie identifiers. Resetting or deleting your browser cookies will reset these preferences.

Essential cookies

These are cookies that are required for the operation of our website. They include, for example, cookies that enable you to log into secure areas of our website.

Analytics cookies

These cookies allow us to recognise and count the number of visitors to our website and to see how visitors move around our website when they are using it. This helps us to improve the way our website works.

Advertising cookies

These cookies allow us to tailor advertising to you based on your interests. If you do not accept these cookies, you will still see adverts, but these will be more generic.

Save and close