Environmental campaigners have launched a stinging attack on proposals for a major overhaul of the land use planning system. The Campaign to Protect Rural England has cautioned against sweeping changes to planning system, and criticised recommendations of the Barker review for putting business and financial interests ahead of environmental concerns. In a detailed critique of the review published by the Treasury in December, CPRE argues that its conclusions are ‘naïve and simplistic' and that the planning system is already biased in favour of developers. Marina Pacheco, CPRE's head of planning, said: ‘Barker's narrow focus on making the system faster and better for business completely misses the point that planning is about getting the right development in the right place at the right time. ‘The planning system needs to be used to address key environmental concerns, while improving the environment and quality of life. There is little evidence that planning is biased against development – in fact, the opposite is true.' l BURA has warned that moves to streamline the planning system should not be used to squeeze more money out of developers, in its response to a Department of Communities and Local Government consultation on planning gain supplement.
