Our view

The Government has changed the planning system to speed up major developments

New Commission  paves the way for massive infrastructure projects
The creation of the Infrastructure Planning Commission (IPC) is one of the most significant – and controversial – changes for over 60 years to the way we plan new development. During that time the planning system has been a major force for improving and protecting the environment – including our precious countryside. It is true that there have been some appalling things done in the name of planning, but we could not have protected our valued green spaces from the pressures of development, or regenerated our towns and cities, without the long established, democratic planning system so many of us take for granted.  

The Government’s new Commission is likely to become the focus of some major environmental battles. CPRE believes that it challenges one of the core principles of planning – that local communities, and public interest groups like us, have a legitimate and often highly constructive contribution to make to the big decisions that can have so much impact on our lives and where people live. The fear is that the Commission will be little more than an expensive rubber stamp for environmentally-damaging schemes from which no one – apart from narrow business interests – stands to gain.

Clearly, we need to renew our infrastructure, not least to tackle the challenge of climate change. How we do this is critical. For example, we need a proper public debate about the effectiveness of onshore wind farms as a renewable energy resource capable of significantly reducing carbon emissions. We don’t want a remote, unaccountable body, under instructions from Ministers, to ride roughshod over those who value unspoilt landscapes and have alternative proposals for low carbon energy provision. And if the Commission approves new runways and road expansion what hope is there of meeting our carbon reduction targets?

Although the IPC was launched in autumn 2009 it officially only begins to receive and consider planning applications on 1 March 2010. Public confidence in its decisions will be key to the success of the IPC. That is why we published four key tests we believe the IPC must live up to  and we intend to monitor its performance carefully. If it hasn’t turned down a number of dubious schemes in its first year, there will be serious questions about its independence of Government and green credentials.
> Four tests for the Infrastructure Planning Commission (53K PDF)

Public confidence in its decisions will be key to the success of the IPC. That is why we intend to monitor its performance carefully. If it hasn’t turned down a number of dubious schemes in its first year, there will be serious questions about its independence of Government and green credentials.