News pages

PRESS RELEASE - 26 July 2011

Berkshire wildlife threatened by short sighted planning reform
Wildlife in Berkshire is set to be threatened by the biggest overhaul of the English planning system in a generation.

That’s the message from concerned conservationists as the Westminster Government unveiled the draft National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) yesterday.

The RSPB has warned that the latest proposals will let the public down by undermining the planning system’s ability to protect nature. The draft NPPF is therefore a missed opportunity to bring to life the ambitions set out in the Government’s recent Natural Environment White Paper.

While internationally-recognised wildlife sites in England are protected by laws such as the EU Habitats and Birds Directives, other sites that are important for wildlife rely on the current national planning system for protection.

Most controversial in the draft NPPF is the default assumption that development proposals will be approved, termed a ‘presumption in favour of sustainable development’. 

Steve Gilbert, Conservation Programme Manager at the RSPB South East, said: “Sustainable development is about making sure we protect the environment for future generations while we carry out activities that develop our society.  This couldn’t be more pertinent than in the densely populated south east of England, where our species, landscapes and natural resources like fresh water face new pressures on a daily basis.

“With wildlife and habitats still declining and our contribution to climate change continuing to grow, it’s clear that what we’re leaving for future generations is looking increasingly poor, and we need to urgently rethink our planning policy.

“One of the strengths of the current system is the fact that planning officers must weigh up a range of concerns before making a decision on a proposed development.  If that’s changed to allow proposals to be approved before other important social and ecological needs are considered, this could shift our style of development further towards short-term economic growth at the cost of sustainability.”

Martin Harper, RSPB Conservation Director, said: “We recognise that economic growth is an immediate and pressing issue, but if it comes at the expense of nature then we are simply saving up bigger problems for ourselves further down the road. As the recent National Ecosystem Assessment showed, our economy and well-being depends on a healthy natural environment. 

“The planning system is what protects the England we all hold dear - our iconic landscapes and our wildlife-rich habitats. It is there to represent the interests of the public in the face of complex decisions, and it will fail us all if one factor – economic growth – is set higher than any other.

“There are welcome phrases within the draft NPPF, but these could turn out to be green-wash unless they are strengthened. If the right checks and balances are not put in place through this reform of planning policy then the Government’s ambitions as laid out in the Natural Environment White Paper will fall at the first hurdle.”

A public consultation on the plans is now underway, and the RSPB will be asking its members and supporters to push government to address these concerns.  The final document will provide new guidance to planning officers in councils across England.