planners

Let’s face it, I am an economic development person so I am biased. I do like our green and pleasant land and I do have a strong regard for conservation but I personally think this new white paper on green issues is coming from the right direction.

I think a good number of you will probably disagree with me but I suspect over a beer we would find we are not so far apart. Having said all of that all those responsible for any element of the development agenda should have a good read of this White Paper. I think it sets out what promises to be an influential and long term set of policy proposals.

The controversial bits of this article profiling the paper concern planners and the bit I and millions of people in rural England will take issue with begins “Our land use planning system has served us well, and could do better, not least in delivering the ambition for nature net gain.

“Our countryside is envied across the world. It is good that the natural environment white paper is bent not only on keeping it that way, but on improving our natural environment and people’s understanding of and access to it. But unless we have a strong, strategic planning system, those ambitions could be dead in the water.”

I suggest this author reads the excellent OECD review of rural policy in England for some counterbalance in terms of the impact unimaginative planning decisions have had in making some places impossible to live and work in for people of ordinary means or failing that she might dig out Matthew Taylor’s landmark report – “Living Working Countryside”

You can access the White Paper itself here.