COMMUNITIES AND LOCAL
GOVERNMENT News Release (290) issued by COI News Distribution
Service. 27 November 2008
The UK's
ability to compete in a tough global economy and deliver new green
infrastructure vital for reducing our carbon emissions was given a
major boost today with the Royal Assent of the Planning Bill.
Ministers said that this Act showed the Government is making the
tough decisions needed for this country's future. During
challenging economic times a quick, predictable and fair planning
system for major infrastructure that can deliver new renewable
energy supplies, public transport and clean water is vital.
Communities Secretary Hazel Blears said:
"One third of Britain's electricity generation capacity
must be replaced in the next few years and the current planning
system is not able to cope. Under the current regime there is
enough renewable energy caught up in the system to power over one
and a half million homes.
"In the future now that the Planning Bill has been given
Royal Assent we can begin to create the faster, fairer planning
system we need to reduce our fossil fuel addiction and build up a
new generation of renewable energy infrastructure sources like
wind power. Many low carbon power sources will now get faster
approval, and the country could save £300m a year."
Planning Bill Minister John Healey added:
"During these tough economic times a quick, predictable and
fair planning service that can deliver new renewable energy
supplies, public transport and clean water is vital.
"This Government has shown it is making the tough decisions
in the interests of the country. The new Planning Act 2008 will
bring about real culture change for deciding the future needs of
our national infrastructure. Importantly it will also give the
public three chances to get their views on proposals across
instead of one."
The Act will create a new integrated planning system for major
infrastructure that will enable us to make the big decisions in
under a year, give people three chances to be heard rather than
just one as now, and make the entire process more accountable and transparent.
Ministers will set out National Policy Statements detailing
national infrastructure priorities for the country in areas such
as energy, aviation, road and rail transport, water and waste, and
the decisions as to whether to allow individual projects to go
ahead will then be taken independently by a new Infrastructure
Planning Commission, operating within the framework set by ministers.
One third of Britain's electricity generating capacity needs
replacing, people are facing rising fuel bills, and we are
becoming more and more dependent on imported energy as supplies
from the North Sea decline. But currently only 5% (or 5 Giga
Watts) of our electricity comes from renewable sources.
The current system has been failing the British public. Today
there is enough renewable energy capacity clogged up in the
England and Wales planning system to power 1.5 million homes
(2.7GW). Planning Bill measures mean it could be decided more
quickly and fairly.
In the New Year the Government will set out a timetable for how
we plan to set-up the IPC and consult on the detailed regulations
and NPSs to implement the new system. This will help promoters
plan their applications, allow stakeholders to plan their
engagement and ensure that all are properly consulted. It will include:
* a timetable for the creation of the Infrastructure Planning
Commission including the appointment of a Chairman and Chief
Executive and when a decision will be made on the location of the body
* a timetable for the consultations on the regulations to create
the IPC powers and the eleven National Policy Statements
* development and publication of Government guidance for the
operation of the IPC
* the expected timetable for consultation and designation of
NPSs. Scrutiny of drafts is expected to begin in 2009 with the
first tranche designated in 2010
Notes to editors
1. The new system will unify the existing eight regimes for
nationally significant infrastructure into a single consent
regime, under which:
* the Government will set out the case for infrastructure in
areas such as energy, aviation, road and rail transport, water and
waste in National Policy Statements integrating social, economic
and environmental policies
* developers will be required to consult local communities and
other key stakeholders prior to submitting applications, and to
conduct environmental assessments where required by EIA regulations
* decisions on nationally significant applications will be made
by an independent Infrastructure Planning Commission (IPC), within
the framework of the National Policy Statements; policy set after
widespread public consultation and scrutiny by Parliament
* inquiries and decisions will be subject to statutory
timetables. By streamlining consent procedures by rationalising
the different regimes, improving inquiry procedures, and imposing
statutory timetables on the process, we expect the time taken from
application to decision to fall to under a year in the majority of cases
2. Eleven National Policy Statements are currently planned. These are:
* overarching energy (providing an overview of the other 5 energy
NPSs)
* fossil fuels
* renewable energy
* electricity
networks
* gas and downstream oil infrastructure
* nuclear
power
* ports
* National Networks (strategic highway and
rail networks)
* aviation
* water supply and waste water
treatment
* hazardous waste (not including nuclear waste)
3. Public involvement is a key feature at all three stages of the
new planning system:
* there will be public consultation on draft national policy
statements. For location-specific national policy statements,
local communities will be consulted
* at the pre-application stage, promoters will be required to
consult relevant local authorities and local communities on
project proposals, giving them a better opportunity to influence
outcomes at an early stage
* the examination stage will be easier for the public to engage
with; anyone who registers an interest will be able to trigger an
open floor hearing, and all interested parties will have a right
to be heard at that hearing; in addition, where the commission
calls a hearing to probe a specific issue, interested parties will
have a right to be heard at that hearing on that issue. There will
also be extra funding for Planning Aid to help local communities
and hard-to-reach groups have their say
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