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About the Campaigns
The current planning laws are holding back business in the United Kingdom.
Whilst business must change and adapt quickly to meet the challenges thrown up by the pressures of globalisation the country’s infrastructure is crumbling under the pressure.
Why is this? The main reason is the length of time it actually takes anything to get through the planning process. This is not necessarily all the fault of local councils as there is increasing pressure upon their time. Household applications more than doubled in the 10 years to 2005 whilst the number of appeals has grown from 14,000 in 1997-98 to an expected 26,000 by the end of the decade.
The current system cannot cope and is inadequate at meeting the needs of business. And this truly has an impact on the UK’s competitiveness.
For example:
BAA had to lodge 37 separate applications under seven different pieces of legislation before it got the go ahead for Terminal 5. This took seven years
It was more than six years before a decision was taken on the North Yorkshire Power Line upgrade
Associated British Ports had to battle for close to four years to get a decision on the expansion of the Dibden Bay container terminal
It is simply not sustainable for the UK’s transport infrastructure projects to be held up by intricacies of the planning process. Local councils, organised pressure groups following their set agenda and NIMBY’s can far too easily stand in the way of projects despite the clear need for them to proceed
Which is why we need your help. The Government put out to consultation on May 23rd its Planning White Paper which has a wide-ranging package of reforms. Amongst the proposals for key national infrastructure projects such as airports, ports and the Strategic Road Network are:
Create an independent commission to take the decisions on nationally significant infrastructure projects
Provide greater certainty for promoters of infrastructure projects
Produce a more strategic, clearer and more focussed national planning policy framework.
The upshot of this should be a planning process that allows projects to be built more quickly and that allows businesses to utilise roads and airports that are a match to our continental rivals.
To show your support for the reforms we would like you to sign the petition for the transport scheme, currently held up by the planning process, that you want to see implemented soon.
We will then hand in the petitions to the government on the day that the consultation closes, August 17th.
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