MORE than 200,000 people have signed a National Trust petition calling on the Government to rethink its controversial planning reforms, the organisation said today.
Around 210,000 signatures, collected online, in local communities and at National Trust properties across England, have been handed in on the last day of the Government’s public consultation into the proposed reforms.
Ministers say changes to the planning system, which slim down more than 1,000 pages of policy to just 52, are needed to boost growth at the same time as giving communities more say in their local area and protecting the environment.
But concerns have been raised that the reforms, which focus on a “presumption in favour of sustainable development” without a clear definition of what that means, could lead to a return to damaging development and urban sprawl.
The National Trust, with a number of other groups, has been calling for changes to the draft national planning policy framework to ensure it protects the countryside and ensures development that is “genuinely” sustainable.
The ensuing row between ministers and conservation groups has seen the Prime Minister, David Cameron, step in to reassure opponents the Government is committed to protecting the countryside and to balancing environmental, economic and social needs.
Peter Nixon, director of conservation at the National Trust, said: “The Prime Minister has recognised the need for a planning system that balances the needs of society, the environment, as well as the economy.
“The people of this country truly care about their local community, their local environment, and their local economy, and that has clearly been demonstrated over the past few weeks.
“Talks with the planning minister have been positive, but it is vital that this widespread public concern is recognised in the final document.
“The range of organisations speaking out on this issue reflects the scale of changes needed to make sure that planning works properly, and does not lead to chaos and planning by appeal.”
Another petition by campaign group 38 Degrees has collected more than 114,000 signatures, while the CPRE has helped supporters send 7,000 letters to their MPs, 5,000 responses to the public consultation and 2,000 letters to local newspapers.
And a group of leading housing providers has warned the proposed planning changes will fail to deliver enough homes for older people.
The chief executives from developers Anchor, McCarthy & Stone, Audley Retirement and Housing 21, all signed a joint letter saying that the draft National Planning Policy Framework did not address the care needs required by the UK’s ageing population.
The Government was told that two-thirds of planning applications for new retirement housing schemes were refused first time round, while fewer than half of councils had housing strategies for older people.
Howard Phillips, chief executive of McCarthy & Stone, said: “We are pleased with the Government’s overall approach, but it does not go far enough to deliver the sea change in policy that is required to build more specialist housing for older people.
“If we are serious about providing suitable housing for older people to live in while addressing their care and support needs, it’s vital the Government looks at making changes.”
Jane Ashcroft, chief executive of Anchor, said: “There is a wealth of evidence demonstrating the relationship between appropriate housing and health in old age. More must be done to ensure people are able to enjoy their later years in homes which meet their needs.”
