Coastal

I offered a lengthy rant in relation to unreferenced anti-development approaches to ruralEnglandin relation to the new planning framework a fortnight ago.  Ministers are starting to get irritated now by the very generalist and unedifying “big picture” criticism levelled by conservation focused groups.

This article explains “The planning minister has rounded on campaigners who claim his proposed planning system overhaul for England seriously threatens the countryside. Greg Clark accused the National Trust of “misleading” people, and suggested the Campaign to Protect Rural England always “objected to every change”. The groups fear excessive development under a simpler, faster system”

I have an economic development background and I am pro development, but not at any cost. I can see the value in specific and detailed critiques and debates around specific issues. I remain concerned however when very large membership organisation make significant statements in their members name without any evidence of thoroughgoing consultation. There have been many unintended consequences arising from the current planning regime which have made significant parts of rural England unaffordable and not viable for people of ordinary means to live in. We need to ensure that becomes a key part of the agenda in this debate.