David Cameron has written to a number of conservation and countryside protection organisations including the National Trust and Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE) about prospective planning reforms, which the Government is eager to pass. In response to the Prime Minister’s letter Shaun Spiers, Chief Executive of CPRE, doled out heavy criticism of the plans, which he said are potentially damaging for the countryside. image expired

Critics of the government’s plans fear that, under new legislation put forward in the drafts, the government would make it much easier to build on Greenfield land, rather than merely simplifying the planning procedure as stated.

National Trust criticise government’s attitude over plans

The National Trust warned that the country could see “unchecked and damaging development” if the plans are passed in their current state. The trust said it believes the government’s eagerness to push through plans was “in the interest of profit above all else.” It too is recommending a fundamental rethink of the draft proposals.

Fiona Reynolds, Director-General, said, “At last the Government has indicated that they are prepared to talk seriously about the major concerns over changes to the planning system. We’re happy to do so, but it’s not a case of a simple re-write of a few words here or there - the general tone of the planning framework is fundamentally wrong. The Government needs to be open to a new approach which genuinely delivers benefits for communities and the environment, as well as business.”

Earlier in the month, she said her organisation had been concerned by “the government’s ‘we’ll talk, but we won’t listen’ message,” and concluded, “We fully-support a simplified system and are not opposed to good development, but we need to get it right or the consequences could be disastrous. We do not need to throw the baby out with the bathwater.”

Both the National Trust and the 38 Degrees campaign have set up online petitions for members of the public concerned by the implications the proposed changes have for the countryside.