These new Government planning policies are a welcome improvement on earlier drafts, but the real test will be whether they deliver meaningful public engagement and environmental improvement in practice.'

This was CPRE's{1} immediate reaction to the Government's publication today (Tuesday) of new planning policies explaining to regions, local authorities and the public{2} how it expects the recent planning reforms{3} to be implemented.  Henry Oliver, CPRE's Head of Planning and Local Government, said:

'We warmly welcome the Government's strong emphasis on sustainable development being "at the heart of" regional planning{4}.  We're also pleased with its support for involving the public in a meaningful way in strategic planning.  But, despite the good news, serious questions still hang over the new planning system.'

Among the parts of today's announcements CPRE welcomes are:

• the prominence given to sustainable development;
• the importance attached to involving the public in decisions that will shape our cities, towns and countryside and have huge implications for people's quality of life{5};
• the strong emphasis on reducing the need to travel and the length of journeys and improve accessibility on foot, by bike and using public transport{6};
• the emphasis on the need for planning to have a 'robust evidence base'{7}; and
• the message that planning should be more proactive and positive.

However, CPRE has continuing concerns over the new system.  In particular, the new documents:

• see planning as primarily about 'delivering' development and change, devaluing its role in protecting and conserving the places and qualities which people value;
• fail to grasp the opportunity presented by the new 'spatial' approach to planning to embrace environmental issues that affect everyone's quality of life{8};
• risk uncertainty, delay and damaging development because of their emphasis on streamlining the system and increasing the flexibility of policies{9};
• do nothing to simplify planning.  The complexity of the new system is likely to make it even less comprehensible to most people than the one it replaces;
• risk reducing the importance of the environment in the way they interpret new European standards for environmental assessment of plans{10}; and
• will struggle to gain public acceptance, because of the lack of accountability at regional level and the centralisation of planning powers in the hands of ministers.{11}

Henry Oliver concluded:

'Much in today's announcement is good news, but the acid test will be how the new rules work in practice. Successful public engagement, an effective role for local authorities in the big decisions and the resolution to resist fierce pressure for damaging development will be key.  We'll be working with the new system at every level to try to ensure that it delivers genuinely sustainable development for the benefit of future generations.'

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NOTES FOR EDITORS

1. CPRE exists to promote the beauty, tranquillity and diversity of rural England by encouraging the sustainable use of land and other natural resources in town and country. We promote positive solutions for the long-term future of the countryside to ensure change values its natural and built environment. Our Patron is Her Majesty The Queen. We have 59,000 supporters, a branch in every county, nine regional groups, over 200 local groups and a national office in London. CPRE is a powerful combination of effective local action and strong national campaigning. Our President is Sir Max Hastings.

2. Today (Tuesday) the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister published the main policy and regulations accompanying its planning reforms.  Among these are Planning Policy Statement 11 Regional Spatial Strategies, Planning Policy Statement 12 Local Development Frameworks and accompanying regulations.  For full details please contact ODPM.

3. The Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004 received the Royal Assent in May, after the longest passage of any Bill in parliamentary history.  It amends the Town and Country Planning Act 1990, and puts in place a new system of regional and local plans.  The main parts of the Act come into force on 28 September 2004.

4.     See e.g. PPS11 paragraph 2.10, which says that the Regional Sustainable Development Framework (or equivalent) 'should be the starting point for developing a [Regional Spatial Strategy] ..., putting sustainable development at the heart of a spatial strategy'.

5.     Annex D to PPS11 expands on the advice set out in the draft consultation document.  Further detail of the Government's approach are set out in Community Involvement in Planning: the Government's Objectives (ODPM, February 2004).

6.     See e.g. PPS11 paragraph 2.16, which states that 'By shaping the pattern of development and influencing the location, scale, density, design and mix of land uses, planning can help to reduce the need to travel, reduce the length of journeys and make it safer and easier for people to access jobs, shopping, leisure facilities and services by public transport, walking, and cycling'.

7.    See e.g. PPS12 paragraph 1.3 vi, which says that local development documents 'must ... be based upon a robust, credible evidence base'.  See also paragraphs 4.8-4.11.

8.     See PPS11 paragraph 1.6, which says little more than that 'The Government's policy on spatial planning goes beyond traditional land use planning to bring together and integrate policies and programmes which influence the nature of places and how they function'.  See also draft PPS1 Creating Sustainable Communities.

9.     See e.g. PPS12 paragraph 1.3, which states that 'Local development frameworks are intended to streamline the local planning process ...'  Among the 'key aims' listed are 'flexibility'.  See also paragraph 2.28: 'The local development framework should contain a limited suite of policies'.

10.    Under an EU Directive 2001/42/EC, all plans have been subject to mandatory strategic environmental assessment (SEA) since July 2004. The UK Government's consultation on the application of SEA to development plans in England was published today.  The intention is to include SEA within the existing sustainability appraisal process.  CPRE is concerned that, by combining environmental with social and economic considerations in line with the Government's definition of sustainable development, this risks watering down the intended emphasis on environmental assessment.

11.    The new planning system abolishes strategic Structure and Unitary Development Plans, prepared by democratically elected authorities, and hands control of regional planning largely to remote, unelected regional assemblies and the Secretary of State.