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Planning shakeup to be published Blaers unveils planning shake-up
(about 6 hours later)
Plans to streamline the English planning system which would speed up decisions on big, national projects are to be outlined by the government. Plans to streamline the English planning system which would speed up decisions on big, national projects have been outlined by the government.
Communities Secretary Hazel Blears said current rules were outdated and a faster and fairer system was needed. Communities Secretary Hazel Blears said it would mean a "faster and more efficient" planning system.
Ministers want to build 3m homes and support the principle of more nuclear power stations and airport expansion.Ministers want to build 3m homes and support the principle of more nuclear power stations and airport expansion.
Campaigners fear big projects will be forced through, at the expense of the environment and local people's views. Opponents fear big projects will be forced through at the expense of the environment and local people's views.
Ministers say the Planning Reform Bill, being published by the government later, will help the UK meet needs for housing and infrastructure as well as environmental and energy supply challenges. Ministers say the Planning Reform Bill will help the UK meet needs for housing and infrastructure as well as environmental and energy supply challenges.
'Timely' decisions'Timely' decisions
It includes an independent planning commission to replace big planning inquiries and will streamline eight current planning regimes covering schemes like electricity generation, power lines, airports and reservoirs.It includes an independent planning commission to replace big planning inquiries and will streamline eight current planning regimes covering schemes like electricity generation, power lines, airports and reservoirs.
The aim is to deliver more "timely and predicable" decisions on important schemes, the government hopes it will mean decisions are made within a year.The aim is to deliver more "timely and predicable" decisions on important schemes, the government hopes it will mean decisions are made within a year.
The government proposals for reforming the planning system put the interests of big business ahead of local people and the environment Tony JuniperFriends of the EarthThe government proposals for reforming the planning system put the interests of big business ahead of local people and the environment Tony JuniperFriends of the Earth
Ms Blears is expected to say later that current arrangements are "confusing and hard to access" and new rules will mean schemes are subject to "rigorous scrutiny" and wide consultation. And the reforms would allow people to install small-scale renewable power sources like solar panels and wind turbines without planning permission - as long as they do not affect their neighbours.
"There will always be controversial project that stir opinion and require difficult judgements to be made. However having a stronger system will ensure all opinions - particularly those of the public - are heard sooner," she will say. Building loft conversions and conservatories would also become easier and councils will have to include climate change in their thinking on local plans.
Projects 'fast-tracked' 'Difficult judgments'
In his recent speech to business leaders at the CBI, Prime Minister Gordon Brown said he would not "shirk" decisions on schemes like a third runway at Heathrow - and said a decision on building new nuclear power stations would be made early in the New Year. Ms Blears said quicker and "high-quality" decisions would help deliver the government's plans for housing, tackling climate change, energy security and transport projects - and would include greater community involvement.
But the Campaign to Protect Rural England's policy director Neil Sinden said: "Environmental protection and community engagement are the foundations of an effective planning system. "There will always be controversial projects that stir opinion and require difficult judgments to be made," she said.
"The government's planning reform agenda looks set to undermine both." "However having a stronger system will ensure all opinions - particularly those of the public - are heard sooner. Making good judgments in less time is of benefit to everyone."
And Friends of the Earth director Tony Juniper accused the government of putting "the interests of big business ahead of local people and the environment". The planning system has fallen into a state of disrepair and is now in need of a major overhaul John CridlandCBI
"Controversial projects such as climate-damaging airports, incinerators and roads will be fast-tracked through the planning process," he said. But the Campaign to Protect Rural England's policy director Neil Sinden said the reforms would undermine both environmental protection and community engagement.
Friends of the Earth director Tony Juniper accused the government of putting "the interests of big business ahead of local people and the environment" while the RSPB's Simon Marsh said the bill was "weak on sustainability".
But business leaders said current rules were jeopardising Britain's future competitiveness, particularly on transport and energy projects.
CBI deputy director-general John Cridland said: "The planning system has fallen into a state of disrepair and is now in need of a major overhaul.
"If the UK is to meet its economic and environmental objectives, including developing new green energy sources, the planning bill needs to deliver a swift and efficient service, whilst giving all interested parties a fair hearing."
The Tories support reform of the planning system but say they opposed a "new central planning quango" and said the voice of local communities must be preserved.
The Lib Dems said there was a real risk that, in searching for faster decisions, residents' concerns about applications would get "bulldozed out of the way".