Back     Latest news from Green Building Press    Subscribe to our newsletter

See what developments are planned for your doorstep

Posted: 03/08/2007

A newly launched online map highlights the location of over one hundred new developments that could be forced through if the Government gets its way over changes to the planning system. The interactive map was developed by The Planning Disaster Coalition and includes information on new nuclear power stations, incinerators and roads.

The map can be viewed at www.planningdisaster.co.uk. It allows viewers to zoom into maps or satellite pictures of England and Wales to identify the location of potential developments including:

*Super-incinerators at Ince Marshes in Cheshire and Peterborough in the East of England

"Up to ten nuclear power plants around the UK including reactors at Sizewell in Suffolk, Calderhall in Cumbria and Hartlepool,

*Airport expansions at Birmingham, Bristol, East Midlands, Heathrow and Stansted,

*Major road schemes including M6 widening between Staffordshire and Cheshire, and a new road bridge across the River Mersey

*A major reservoir at Abingdon in Oxfordshire

The current planning system allows the public to be part of the decision making process, say the Coalition. They can have their say on proposals for major developments such as new roads or nuclear power stations.

However, reforms proposed in the Government's White Paper on planning will remove the public's democratic right to challenge projects at public inquiry. Planning decisions will also be taken out of the hands of accountable politicians and handed over to an unelected, unaccountable new body known as the Infrastructure Planning Commission.

Planning Disaster, a coalition of Britain's leading environment organisations representing over five million members, is concerned that the changes will allow developers to push through major projects that could have a catastrophic impact on communities, the countryside and the wider environment. It is calling on the Government to rethink the Planning White Paper and introduce a planning system which allows people a real and meaningful say in how their area is developed.

Planning Disaster Coalition Coordinator Owen Espley said: "We developed the planning disaster map so that people can see how changes to the planning system could affect their area. The map shows many major new developments which could be forced through by Government - with local people effectively prevented from having a say. Anyone who is concerned can email the Government at www.planningdisaster.co.uk".

The Planning Disaster Coalition have set up a simple to use system to allow people to take part in the Government consultation. All they need to do is send the Government an email via www.planningdisaster.co.uk. The deadline is 17th August.

The Coalition's members include, Airport Watch, CPRE, Civic Trust, Council For National Parks, Enoughs Enough, Friends of The Earth, The Grasslands Trust, The National Trust, nef (The New Economics Foundation), the Ramblers' Association, Restore UK, the RSPB, Transport 2000, UKRIGS, The Wildlife Trusts, and The Woodland Trust.

Green Building Press  
 

Back     Latest news from Green Building Press    Subscribe to our newsletter

2092