An exclusive pursuit by the Government of economic growth could have dire costs for the countryside, and the wider environment. This is CPRE’s [1] warning as the Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Bill, which reforms regional planning, becomes law this week [2].

New regional Strategies, provided for by the Bill, will set out how many new homes should be built, where they should go, and the transport links and economic development needed to support them.  Such decisions will have major environmental implications, not least for efforts to reduce carbon emissions.

Adam Royle, Parliamentary Officer at CPRE, said:

‘For the first time, the Local Democracy Act will give Regional Development Agencies (RDAs) – unelected bodies - a lead role in planning for land use.

‘In Parliament, Ministers have focused on the economic benefits the new approach will bring, but at what cost to the environment?

‘The ‘mission creep’ of the economically focused RDAs is worrying. We have argued for stronger controls so that when the new Regional Strategies are drawn up, they can ensure that the economic policies take full account of environmental impact.

‘Current plans for England’s regions have been beset by legal challenges and delays [3], because local communities do not feel that planned numbers of new houses are either achievable or environmentally sustainable.’

Adam Royle concluded:

‘We need more affordable homes and low carbon development. The challenge for Government is to ensure new regional plans promote a sustainable way of securing these, and necessary associated infrastructure, developed in genuine partnership with those living and working in the area.’

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NOTES FOR EDITORS

1. 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

2. The Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Act will reform regional planning. It will integrate the Regional Spatial and Regional Economic Strategies to form a single Regional Strategy, abolish Regional Assemblies and pass responsibility for regional planning to the Regional Development Agencies and local authorities.

3. In May aspects of the East of England Regional Spatial Strategy (RSS) were successfully challenged in the case City and District Council of St Albans v Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government (20 May 2009) The High Court found in favour of the claimant in certain areas covered by the strategy, because the environmental report did not identify, describe and evaluate reasonable alternatives to the housing polices in those areas (http://www.bailii.org/ew/cases/EWHC/Admin/2009/1280.html). This decision has led to a delay in the Government finalising the South West RSS. There have also been six legal challenges to the South East RSS.