CPRE attacks Chancellor’s planning as ’misguided’
Whilst there are no specific budget measures linked at bringing forward changes to the planning regime, George Osborne’s comments on the need for more development friendly approaches to planning and the proposed publication of the National Planning Framework on Tuesday, have got CPRE steamed up. This article reports:
Adam Royle, spokesman for CPRE, says: ’We heard yet more of the Chancellor’s misguided and dangerous rhetoric on planning today. If the Government undermines sound planning, it will put sustainable economic growth at risk. Countries like Germany show that good economic performance and strong planning systems can go hand in hand.
’We will have to wait until next Tuesday when the final planning framework is to be published to see if the voices of reason in Government will yet win out.
’From the Chancellor’s words we fear the longstanding protection for the wider countryside will be abandoned. That would mean that 55% of English countryside, including many locally loved green spaces, could be placed at the mercy of developers.
’Also extremely worrying is the suggestion that communities may not be given any time to ensure their local plans conform to the new framework . This could leave more then one third of areas that don’t currently have a plan exposed to a crude ’presumption in favour of sustainable development’.
’On the basis of the budget statement, the Government’s promise that the planning reforms are about empowering local people looks very hollow indeed.’
The battle lines are clearly being drawn with the Prime Minister saying he is prepared to risk unpopularity over the issue according to this article in the Telegraph.