In November 2007 the government released the Planning Reform Bill setting out proposals for a new system for nationally significant infrastructure planning, alongside further reforms to the town and country planning system. The Bill can be downloaded here (http://services.parliament.uk/bills/2007-08/planning.html )
Whilst the Civic Trust supports the principle of reform and simplification of the Planning System where necessary and welcomes some of the proposals in the Bill such as the commitment to community consultation at an early stage, we are concerned that in the rush to “streamline” the planning system at any cost, the Planning Bill is balanced too far in favour of developers with the interests of the community, heritage and environment being accorded reduced importance.
Read the Civic Trusts response to the Planning White Paper Here
The Civic Trust is also a member of the Planning Coalition that was formed to campaign against some of the proposals in the Planning White Paper Coalition (now the Planning Reform Bill) members include CPRE, Council for National Parks, Friends of the Earth, the Civic Trust, the Ramblers, RSPB, the New Economics Foundation, Transport 2000, AirportWatch, enoughsenough.org, The Wildlife Trusts, UKRIGS, and the Woodland Trust
The Coalition is not anti-development, however, it is deeply concerned that some aspects of the Planning Reform Bill may undermine effective action on climate change and sustainable development, as well as, seriously weaken publication consultation on major planning issues, particularly at the local level.
Visit the website for campaign updates and information
