Government unveils planning overhaul
Ruth Kelly says planning reforms will help tackle climate change
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Monday, 21, May 2007 04:43
The government has announced new planning rules today which ministers will claim are needed to tackle climate change and cut costs for homeowners.
Under proposals outlined in a white paper, new measures are set to be introduced which will allow wind farm and nuclear power station developments to be approved more quickly.
Communities secretary Ruth Kelly told parliament that the reforms to the country's cumbersome planning system are needed to fight global warming and secure future energy supplies which do not release harmful fossil fuels into the environment.
Proposals to scrap the need for property owners to secure planning permission for minor home improvement projects were also introduced, with Ms Kelly previously indicating that the change would make it easier for people to make use of roof-top wind turbines and solar panels in order to do their bit for the environment.
The minister says that the consolidation of eight separate planning application mechanisms into one all-encompassing commission would save £1 billion over the next decade, with the government pledging to deliver "national planning statements" annually for the next ten to 25 years.
The shake-up of the planning system, which has not been reformed for decades, also includes the establishment of an independent planning commission to take responsibility for approving major infrastructure projects.
Ms Kelly said that the new proposals would replace a "costly, confusing and inaccessible" system.
"If we are to thrive, we need a better system for taking the difficult decisions. If we do not the risks are significant - energy shortages, mounting congestion and increasing pollution," she said in parliament today.
"Nobody will agree with every planning decision but our reforms will make the system better focussed, fairer, faster and more accessible for all. They will support our goal of improving the places where we live, work, visit, and enjoy."
Trade and industry secretary Alistair Darling added: "We need to streamline the procedures so that people can have their say at the same time as reducing delays and uncertainties. Secure, clean energy supplies are vital.
"Currently major energy projects, including wind farms, can take many years going through the planning system which is confusing and unpredictable for both industry and communities."
Business leaders have welcomed the government's decision to overhaul the existing planning regime.
The director general of the Confederation of British Industry (CBI), Richard Lambert, said that reform was necessary in order to secure new energy projects needed to replace a third of the country's electricity generation by 2020, when ministers want more energy to come from renewable sources.
"Business is very pleased that the planning white paper is being published as there is an urgent need to reform the system if we want to be able to deliver the major infrastructure which the UK is crying out for, including tackling the imminent deficit in power generation," he said.
But Friends of the Earth (FoE) claimed that the plans will "give the green light" to major developments such as motorway and airport expansions and waste incinerator sites, which would actually increase carbon dioxide emissions.
"The planning white paper will give the green light to massive new developments while stripping away opportunities for affected communities or the wider public to input on the decisions," said FoE planning adviser Hugh Ellis.
"This is policy making at its worse - it will destroy local communities and exacerbate climate change," he added.
But as part of her announcement to MPs today, Ms Kelly insisted that the government's commitment to protecting the green belt had been renewed by the new plans.