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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Planning shake-up for big schemes | Planning shake-up for big schemes |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| Gaining permission for major building projects such as airport terminals and power stations would become a quicker process under government plans. | Gaining permission for major building projects such as airport terminals and power stations would become a quicker process under government plans. |
| Communities Secretary Ruth Kelly wants to replace large planning inquiries in England with an independent commission. | |
| She told the BBC the "incredibly difficult system" needed reform. | She told the BBC the "incredibly difficult system" needed reform. |
| Environmentalists oppose the idea which the Tories describe as "plans for a new undemocratic government quango to dump developments on local communities". | Environmentalists oppose the idea which the Tories describe as "plans for a new undemocratic government quango to dump developments on local communities". |
| Heathrow | Heathrow |
| Ms Kelly told BBC Radio 4's Today programme the Independent Planning Commission (IPC) - to be proposed in a white paper on Monday - would look at the potential local impact of large projects, such as on air quality, noise and traffic problems | Ms Kelly told BBC Radio 4's Today programme the Independent Planning Commission (IPC) - to be proposed in a white paper on Monday - would look at the potential local impact of large projects, such as on air quality, noise and traffic problems |
| She added: "If you take a major infrastructure project like terminal five at Heathrow - that took seven years to go through the planning application process. | She added: "If you take a major infrastructure project like terminal five at Heathrow - that took seven years to go through the planning application process. |
| "It had to be considered under 37 different application, seven different pieces of legislation. Now, local people find that an incredibly difficult system to manage. | "It had to be considered under 37 different application, seven different pieces of legislation. Now, local people find that an incredibly difficult system to manage. |
| "In fact I would argue it only favours the well resourced, the people who can afford to pay professional lawyers fees. | "In fact I would argue it only favours the well resourced, the people who can afford to pay professional lawyers fees. |
| "The system that we want to set up is one that is much simpler to understand, and where the public is locked in at every stage of the consultation process." | "The system that we want to set up is one that is much simpler to understand, and where the public is locked in at every stage of the consultation process." |
| 'Complex' | 'Complex' |
| But Neil Sinden, policy director at the Campaign to Protect Rural England, said: "We are not as reassured as we would like to be about these safeguards." | But Neil Sinden, policy director at the Campaign to Protect Rural England, said: "We are not as reassured as we would like to be about these safeguards." |
| He added: "The planning system is there to help us debate issues.... | He added: "The planning system is there to help us debate issues.... |
| "Inquiries do take time. These issues are complex. We need to balance national and local issues." | "Inquiries do take time. These issues are complex. We need to balance national and local issues." |
| There was a danger the proposed new system would "strip democratic accountability out of the planning system", he added. | There was a danger the proposed new system would "strip democratic accountability out of the planning system", he added. |
| HAVE YOUR SAY The current planning system for major applications does not work W. Boucher, Cambridge Send us your comments | HAVE YOUR SAY The current planning system for major applications does not work W. Boucher, Cambridge Send us your comments |
| Hugh Ellis, of Friends of the Earth, said: "The planning white paper will give the green light to massive new developments while stripping away opportunities for affected communities or the wider public to input on the decisions. | Hugh Ellis, of Friends of the Earth, said: "The planning white paper will give the green light to massive new developments while stripping away opportunities for affected communities or the wider public to input on the decisions. |
| "This is policy making at its worse. It will destroy local communities and exacerbate climate change." | "This is policy making at its worse. It will destroy local communities and exacerbate climate change." |
| Liberal Democrat housing spokesperson Dan Rogerson said: "All the indications suggest the changes will help Labour's friends in the nuclear and supermarket industries, rather than giving local people a genuine say in planning." | Liberal Democrat housing spokesperson Dan Rogerson said: "All the indications suggest the changes will help Labour's friends in the nuclear and supermarket industries, rather than giving local people a genuine say in planning." |
| The white paper will also suggest minor projects like conservatories and home extensions should no longer need planning permission where there is little impact on neighbours. | The white paper will also suggest minor projects like conservatories and home extensions should no longer need planning permission where there is little impact on neighbours. |
| The number of private applications has more than doubled since 1995 to almost 330,000 per year, and ministers say they are costly and cumbersome for homeowners. | The number of private applications has more than doubled since 1995 to almost 330,000 per year, and ministers say they are costly and cumbersome for homeowners. |
| Applications rising | Applications rising |
| A routine planning application can take up to three months to be decided and cost up to £1,000, they say. Yet nine out of 10 householder applications are finally agreed. | A routine planning application can take up to three months to be decided and cost up to £1,000, they say. Yet nine out of 10 householder applications are finally agreed. |
| It is believed the changes could reduce the number of applications by up to 90,000 per year. | It is believed the changes could reduce the number of applications by up to 90,000 per year. |
| Ms Kelly will say the system should support people's aspirations to improve their homes, while retaining safeguards on noise, siting and size to protect their neighbours. | Ms Kelly will say the system should support people's aspirations to improve their homes, while retaining safeguards on noise, siting and size to protect their neighbours. |
| The chairman of the Local Government Association, Lord Bruce Lockhart, said he agreed a less bureaucratic system was needed. | The chairman of the Local Government Association, Lord Bruce Lockhart, said he agreed a less bureaucratic system was needed. |
| "We need a faster system, but obviously we can't have people simply building a garage where they like, if it cuts out a neighbour's view," he told BBC Breakfast. | "We need a faster system, but obviously we can't have people simply building a garage where they like, if it cuts out a neighbour's view," he told BBC Breakfast. |
| "We need to see in the white paper how it deals with that, how it deals with the need to have a neater, faster simpler, but take in to account neighbours as well." | "We need to see in the white paper how it deals with that, how it deals with the need to have a neater, faster simpler, but take in to account neighbours as well." |
| Other measures in the White Paper include allowing minor amendments to be made to a planning permission without the need for a full planning application, for example the minor repositioning of a door and also plans to introduce a new fast-track appeals system. | Other measures in the White Paper include allowing minor amendments to be made to a planning permission without the need for a full planning application, for example the minor repositioning of a door and also plans to introduce a new fast-track appeals system. |