The Institute of Environmental Management & Assessment (IEMA), which represents almost 22,000 environment and sustainability professionals including the UK’s largest collection of Environmental Impact Assessment professionals, warned against watering down oversight and environmental protections in the planning system.
IEMA was responding to a speech by the new Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rachel Reeves, that focused on “cutting red tape” within the planning system.
IEMA deputy CEO, Martin Baxter, said:
“Kick-starting economic growth is the number one mission of the incoming Labour Party but that growth must be green.
“Sensible planning reform can unlock the potential of the green economy, accelerating the delivery of low carbon infrastructure and the development of new homes that are consistent with Net Zero carbon reduction targets under a Future Homes Standard.
“But any reforms need to ensure the planning system continues to balance economic growth, the needs and rights of local people, and importantly environmental enhancement.
“And polling clearly shows that the public want more, not less involvement, in planning decisions.”
300 new planning officers is welcome – but more competent experts needed
IEMA welcomed funding for 300 new local planning officers, but says speeding up the planning system requires investment in capacity building across the board.
The new Labour Government manifesto says it will ensure local communities continue to shape housebuilding in their area with funding for 300 new local planning officers, but “where necessary Labour will not be afraid to make full use of intervention powers to build the houses we need”.
IEMA’s Impact Assessment policy lead, Rufus Howard, said:
“Investment in new planning officers is welcome – but if the planning system really has been identified as the number one blocker to economic growth, then it needs to be properly funded across the board.
“If you want to speed up the planning system, we must have competent experts in place – not just local planning officers, but also environmental impacts assessors and other professionals – to ensure evidence-based practice.
“That means more capacity building. Growing skills, proper staffing levels, proper pay, so we have well-staffed, well-trained professionals throughout the planning system, who can make sensible, timely decisions at the local level, taking into account economy, people and nature, in other words – sustainable economic growth.”
YouGov poll finds fewer than 10% of people want less public involvement in the planning process
The call comes as polling during the election by YouGov for IEMA found 3 in 5 of adults in Britain think there should be more public involvement in the planning system.
The Labour Party manifesto promises to “slash red tape” in the planning system, the survey found 63% of people think there should be more public involvement in planning for new housing developments and 59% in major infrastructure planning. The numbers were higher in Scotland with 73% and 67%.
The IEMA/YouGov survey also found that less than 10% of people think there should be less public involvement in the planning process of new housing developments (8%) and major infrastructure projects (9%).
Labour has put planning reform at the centre of economic growth ambitions, aiming to build 1.5 million new homes and forge ahead with new roads, railways, reservoirs, and other nationally significant infrastructure – making major projects faster and cheaper by building support for developments and ensuring communities directly benefit.
