Mixed reception for Planning Act

04 December 2008

Approval of the Planning Act, aimed at streamlining the process of deciding major infrastructure projects, has received a mixed reaction.

Under the Planning Act, passed last week, ministers will set out National Policy Statements detailing infrastructure priorities for the country in areas such as energy, aviation, road and rail transport, water and waste. Decisions on whether individual projects will go ahead will then by taken by a new Infrastructure Planning Commission.

Damian Cleghorn, policy officer for the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) said: ‘We believe the new Planning Act will greatly improve the process for deciding on major infrastructure projects, including those aimed at achieving a low carbon built environment.’

But Paul Miner, Campaign to Protect Rural England’s senior planning campaigner, said he ‘doubted that the Bill’s centrepiece – an unelected, commission – will work in practice’.

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