Planning for prosperity should have the environment at its heart
5 May 2009
Responding to the publication today (Tuesday) by the Government of a new policy Planning for Prosperous Economies [1], countryside campaigners, CPRE [2], warn that the draft policy could foster indiscriminate growth at the expense of the environment and countryside.
Kate Gordon, CPRE’s Senior Planning Officer said:
‘While parts of the draft policy are very positive [3], these are undermined by other aspects. We need to move away from the “business as usual” model which led us to where we are now.
A more discerning approach to economic development should recognise the role the planning system can play in moving towards a low carbon and resilient economy. The emphasis on growth, adopting a more flexible approach to planning, expanding retail and office floor space will make these objectives hard to achieve in practice. The policy also fails to recognise the role of land-based enterprises and their contribution to our quality of life and environment.
Kate Gordon concluded: ‘The last thing we need is “growth at any cost”. The environment must be at the heart of our future prosperity.’
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NOTES FOR EDITORS
1. The consultation paper on a new Planning Policy Statement 4: Planning for Prosperous Economies, is published by Communities and Local Government. This is a significant policy since it will set out national guidelines on decisions covering the allocation and use of land and buildings for shops, warehouses offices, industry and a wide range of other uses. It will replace current policies on retail (PPG6), planning for industrial development (PPG4) and aspects of PPS7 (Sustainable Development in Rural Areas). The draft policy takes forward some of Matthew Taylor’s recommendations (Living Working Countryside, 2008) with regard to the rural economy and Kate Barker with regard to the proposed replacement of a retail needs test with a retail impact test (Review of Land Use Planning, 2006).
2. CPRE, the Campaign to Protect Rural England, is a charity which promotes the beauty, tranquillity and diversity of rural England. We advocate positive solutions for the long-term future of the countryside. Founded in 1926, we have 60,000 supporters and a branch in every county. President: Bill Bryson. Patron: Her Majesty The Queen. www.cpre.org.uk
3. Aspects of the policy we welcome include: the statement that ‘economic development in open countryside away from existing settlements, or outside areas allocated for development in development plans, should be strictly controlled’; the emphasis given to the ‘sequential approach’ which gives priority to developing and re-using land and buildings within settlements – an approach long advocated by CPRE – and a policy on protecting village and local centres.
Kate Gordon, CPRE’s Senior Planning Officer said:
‘While parts of the draft policy are very positive [3], these are undermined by other aspects. We need to move away from the “business as usual” model which led us to where we are now.
A more discerning approach to economic development should recognise the role the planning system can play in moving towards a low carbon and resilient economy. The emphasis on growth, adopting a more flexible approach to planning, expanding retail and office floor space will make these objectives hard to achieve in practice. The policy also fails to recognise the role of land-based enterprises and their contribution to our quality of life and environment.
Kate Gordon concluded: ‘The last thing we need is “growth at any cost”. The environment must be at the heart of our future prosperity.’
– END –
NOTES FOR EDITORS
1. The consultation paper on a new Planning Policy Statement 4: Planning for Prosperous Economies, is published by Communities and Local Government. This is a significant policy since it will set out national guidelines on decisions covering the allocation and use of land and buildings for shops, warehouses offices, industry and a wide range of other uses. It will replace current policies on retail (PPG6), planning for industrial development (PPG4) and aspects of PPS7 (Sustainable Development in Rural Areas). The draft policy takes forward some of Matthew Taylor’s recommendations (Living Working Countryside, 2008) with regard to the rural economy and Kate Barker with regard to the proposed replacement of a retail needs test with a retail impact test (Review of Land Use Planning, 2006).
2. CPRE, the Campaign to Protect Rural England, is a charity which promotes the beauty, tranquillity and diversity of rural England. We advocate positive solutions for the long-term future of the countryside. Founded in 1926, we have 60,000 supporters and a branch in every county. President: Bill Bryson. Patron: Her Majesty The Queen. www.cpre.org.uk
3. Aspects of the policy we welcome include: the statement that ‘economic development in open countryside away from existing settlements, or outside areas allocated for development in development plans, should be strictly controlled’; the emphasis given to the ‘sequential approach’ which gives priority to developing and re-using land and buildings within settlements – an approach long advocated by CPRE – and a policy on protecting village and local centres.
