Launch of new report on consultation

On 14 July, the House of Lords witnessed the release of Green Issues' report on 'Consultation and Development - An update on current and best practice' at a reception at the House of Lords. The report runs parallel with the government's thinking on planning, in particular with the proposed Planning Bill. It goes on to outline how best to engage in community consultation, a central tenet of any legislation.

The report has been written by Ian Christie, Surrey University's Visiting Professor of Sustainable Development, alongside contributions from Perry Walker, Director of the Democracy Programme, New Economics Foundation, and Diane Warburton, a researcher/consultant on sustainability, community and participation.

The event was hosted by Lord Lucas of Crudwell and Dingwall in the Cholmondeley Room and Terrace. It brought together over 160 leading members of the development industry to discuss Green Issues' and Ian Christie's findings.

Green Issues' Managing Director said of the report, 'This is something we have long believed in. Ian Christie has shown that community consultation will become more, not less important over the coming years. It is important for all of us in development to have a manual to which we can refer when working with local stakeholders. We look forward to working with developers to ensure that communities are consulted earlier and more often and that therefore applications are more likely to get the go ahead.'

For a copy of the report contact Ian Thorn on iant@greenissues.com

London affordable plan gets go-ahead

Planners have reported that Mayor Ken Livingstone's London Plan - including ambitious targets to double the numbers of affordable homes built in the capital - can go ahead.

The results of the independent Examination in Public (EIP) justify Livingstone's 50% affordable target because of the acute demand. It will also back the new homes to be provided in London to accommodate 700,000 more people by 2016.

However, the Housebuilders' Federation (HBF) has slammed the plan, saying it will amount to a 'development tax'. By forcing a high percentage of affordable homes, they say, developers will be unable to bring forward brownfield sites where the marginal costs would make development unviable.

The London Plan is regarded as the most important document so far produced by the Mayor. With the biggest number of houses due to be produced in east London, the Government is announcing a series of infrastructure improvements such as the go-ahead for Crossrail. This week is due to see an announcement on the extension of the Docklands Light Railway to Barking.

Green Issues' analysis is that the pressure for high-density developments proposed to justify the new affordable housing figures will continue to cause controversy between residents and developers. This, combined with concerns about infrastructure with the new Communities Plan, means that the Government's emphasis on community consultation is more needed than ever.

For more information about community involvement programmes in London, contact Sarah King or Gareth Epps on 0118 959 1211 or email garethe@greenissues.com.

"Planning should be about making things happen" says Minister

A written Parliamentary Statement by Planning Minister Keith Hill has launched a consultation on changes to Planning Policy guidance of housing (PPG3) today. These changes are intended to encourage brownfield development for housing and relieve the pressure on greenfield sites.

Keith Hill said:

'At the moment some local authorities are still hanging onto land for commercial and industrial use when it's not going to be needed. Meanwhile, a housing shortage builds up or there's more pressure for greenfield development. We need to free up this land and provide homes when and where they're needed.'

The changes will also improve the capacity of PPG3 to influence the size, type and affordability of housing.

'Local government must work in tandem with the housebuilding industry to make sure new homes are delivered where they're needed.

We don't want uncontrolled building. I want to see managed, sustainable delivery. Regional and local plans have house-building targets for a reason - people need homes. It's no good preparing plans and then sitting back. Planning should be about making things happen.'

The consultation period will run until 31 October 2003.

The ODPM has also published research on the implementation of PPG3.

Conservatives plan to build more roads to stop congestion

On the 22nd July, the Conservative Party launched their new policy document titled 'Free to Travel'.

Ian Duncan Smith believes that their policy document will set out the case for a fundamental change in transport policy.

'Labour's transport policy has failed because it has refused to accept the simple fact that people want to be free to choose where they go and how they get there... A Conservative government will enable people to make their own choices.' (Ian Duncan Smith)

Mr Duncan Smith and Conservative Shadow Transport Secretary Tim Collins revealed that their research shows that Britain's commuters face the longest journeys to work in the EU, last year, 1.4 million man hours were wasted due to congestion on Britain's motorways. The CBI estimates congestion costs the UK over 20 billion pounds a year.

The Conservatives argue that the cause of the ever-growing congestion problem is the fact that more women and pensioners are choosing to drive.

'It also means that building more roads in the future doesn't automatically mean that they are doomed to be congested.' (Ian Duncan Smith)

Tim Collins highlights that in 2001 no road construction projects took place on the national network and points to the road networks in Europe to show that more and better roads can produce less congestion.

However the Conservatives' new policy has come under criticism from the Liberal Democrat Shadow Transport Secretary Don Foster. Mr Foster claims that Liberal Democrat research shows that it is in fact middle aged men who have been the biggest contributors to traffic growth over the last 25 years and points out that when the M25 was widened, it quickly became as congested as ever.

'The Conservatives are just saying things they think will please car drivers, trying to get their votes. In fact, their policies will be worse for car drivers and pedestrians alike.' (Don Foster MP, 22/07/03)

Following the recent Government announcement of a £7 billion plan for expanding motorways and new routes, it would seem that road expansion is destined to go ahead. Though whether this will solve the congestion problem remains to be seen.