A role for the public in ensuring planning decisions meet their environmental and developmental interests

One of Defra’s top three priorities is protecting the environment and enhancing biodiversity. Under this priority, a key commitment is to publish a White Paper on the natural environment by 2011, the first stage of which is an open consultation process aiming to shape the development of this paper. This is an important step in a move towards greater consideration of public interest with regard to the environment and its protection.

However, the work of the Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE) highlights that the public needs a greater role in planning decisions to ensure that the public’s environmental and developmental interests in relation to society are met.

Olliver Hilliam from the CPRE suggests that:

“The only way for the Government to deliver the kind of environmental protection it wants at the same time as building a truly green economy is through a democratic planning system, one which gives equal weight to environmental and economic considerations, and involves people in decisions about development”.

58% of people questioned as a part of Natural England’s omnibus survey on people and the natural environment, said they had been served by green-belt land in the last 12 months when undertaking a variety of activities. Research has also shown that individuals living within 500 metres of green space are almost 25% more likely to be active at the levels recommended by the Department of Health. For Government to reform the planning system while ensuring environmental protection, it is important that the focus is on the assets of the landscape, and the aspirations of members of the public who are impacted by it and who use the space.

Visit the Sciencewise-ERC projects page to find out more about dialogues focused on the environment.

Express your views about how the planning system can be reformed whilst ensuring environmental protection, on the Sciencewise-ERC forum.