Welcome measures come in threes

Three government announcements intended to help push the green agenda were welcomed by the Town & Country Planning Association (TCPA) and Friends of the Earth (FOE).

Housing Minister John Healey announced three new planning policy statements, £10 million to help local authorities to fund the knowledge and expertise to plan for climate change, and added two further names to the ‘second wave’ Eco-Towns programme – all of which have gone down well with the two organisations.

“This is an historic moment,” said Dr Hugh Ellis, the TCPA’s chief planner. “Planning can, and must, address the critical need to reshape our society and economy into a positive low carbon future. In the aftermath of the failure of Copenhagen it is now crucial that we drive transformational change by empowering communities to deal with their energy need. This policy is one the most dramatic and significant steps forward in the development of spatial planning. The profession has to step up to the challenge of taking communities to a low carbon future.”

FOE’s renewable energy campaigner Nick Rau said: “Tackling climate change must be at the core of the planning system – and these reforms are a significant step towards a low-carbon future. Local authorities have a vital role to play in ensuring that UK carbon reduction targets are met by boosting green development and preventing carbon-hungry projects from being approved.”

The TCPA’s interim chief executive, Kate Henderson added: “It is fantastic news that Government has listened to the Planning and Climate Change Coalition, led by the TCPA and Friends of the Earth, to create a new planning policy which will put planning for climate change at the heart of decision-making. The Government is right to expect that planning will continue to provide for the development needs of all the community, contribute to housing supply and economic growth as well as support social justice.

“We need urgent strategic action at the national and local level to combat this challenge and this new policy will help transform the system’s ability to deliver this. Building on the lessons from our European project on climate adaptation we are particularly pleased to see the emphasis on bringing forward adaptation options to improve community resilience to the real threats of climate change, paying specific attention to the impacts on the most vulnerable groups.

“The TCPA is also delighted to see that the Coalition’s recommendation to boost training and skills for planners and elected members has been heard, with nearly £10 million being allocated to empower local authorities to approve more renewable energy projects and sustainable housing.”