UK Streamlines Planning for Big Airport Projects

LONDON, United Kingdom, July 23, 2001 (ENS) - The UK government has introduced mew measures it says will modernize the planning system to speed up decisions on major infrastructure projects like new airport and rail links.

But Friends of the Earth UK says the streamlined planning process is "bad for democracy and bad for the environment."

Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, Stephen Byers introduced the new package Friday after consultation with stakeholders.

Stephen Byers, Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (Photo courtesy UK Department of Trade and Industry)

Requiring new primary legislation is a proposal for new Parliamentary procedures that would enable the Secretary of State to put a project of national significance to Parliament for debate and agreement on the broad principles ahead of a more detailed inquiry.

The number of big projects is comparatively small. There have been only a few projects in the last 15 years where inquiries have lasted more than three months. But the longest planning inquiries have lasted years and have been expensive for all involved.

Examples of projects that would be affected include Stansted Airport, Heathrow Airport Terminal 5, Manchester Airport Second Runway and the East London River Crossing, a major sea port at Dibden Bay, possible proposals to build new nuclear reactors, and a variety of controversial road schemes.

Planes lined up at Manchester Airport (Photos courtesy Freefoto.com)

Under the new system, current statements of government policy, which would normally have involved public consultation, must be in place before major projects are considered in the planning system.

An up-to-date policy statement on airports, for instance, would reduce the inquiry time devoted to a debate on what government policy is on a particular subject, Byers said.

Byers proposed improved public inquiry procedures, including strengthening the powers of inspectors, stricter time-tabling and more clearly focused terms of reference. These changes will come into operation as soon as practicable, he said. He has ruled out proposals to abolish the right to cross-examine at public inquiries.

The government says the new measures would build in opportunities for public consultation and debate at three stages: when the government consults on its national policy statements, when the principle of a specific proposal is put to Parliament, and when a public inquiry considers the details of a proposal, Byers says.

London's busy and noisy Heathrow Airport

Byers said Friday, "Approval in principle for major infrastructure projects should be a matter for Parliament. Procedures will be developed which allow that. These will give people the right to object before Parliament debates the issues. Detailed aspects will be examined at a subsequent public inquiry if Parliament approves the project. We want the overall process for deciding projects to be shorter and more focussed whilst ensuring that people affected have a full right to make their views known."

Dr. Hugh Ellis, Friends of the Earth's planning adviser said, "Mr. Byers is pre-judging the value of big projects based solely on their economic merits. Given the government's huge majority in Parliament these controversial views are bound to be bulldozed through, regardless of their social and environmental impacts. Indeed one of the schemes Mr. Byers mentions as having been subject to lengthy consultation, the East London River Crossing, would almost certainly have gone ahead under his new system. As it was the scheme was abandoned after enormous public opposition highlighted the enormous damage the road would cause."

People Against the River Crossing, a widely supported community group, was set up to prevent the East London River Crossing from destroying Oxleas Woods and cutting a swathe through the open spaces in Greenwich and Bexley in South-East London.

The group won a ruling in the European Courts that the government had failed to undertake a proper environmental assessment before deciding on their route. Faced with this ruling they have shelved the road scheme, although a modified scheme is still under consideration.

Now the government is moving forward on an improved regional framework that is supposed to assist consideration of individual projects. New arrangements for regional planning guidance preparation have enhanced the openness and inclusiveness of the process, including improved consultation and the chance for people to have their say with a public examination before an independent panel, Byers said.

"The government should address the inadequacies and inherent bias of the current planning system," Ellis said. "Making it less democratic and accountable will only increase people's frustrations and lead to bigger protests against large developments. Where is the much needed third right of appeal? Today's announcement is a dreadful missed opportunity to improve the system for all."

Byers maintained, "Public inquiries are and will remain an important feature of the planning process. They are a tried and tested way of exploring the issues in public and giving people the chance to make an input to decisions."