Staffordshire Wildlife Trust comments on hundreds of planning consultations a year, and says the Government need to think twice before giving an instant green light to new development after they announced the publication of a White Paper, Planning for the Future.
The Trust believes there are fundamental flaws in the current planning system because it has allowed huge declines in the natural world – and the proposed reform of the process will make a bad situation much worse.
Kate Dewey, Senior Planning Officer for the Trust, said: “We understand the need to get the economy moving again and welcome the pledge to maintain standards, but worry that current shortfalls need to be put right if we are to build better and in the right places.
“Good forward-planning can really help get the balance right, but we haven’t seen enough detail from the Government to give us the confidence that wildlife will be protected.”
The Housing Secretary, Robert Jenrick, has announced that under the new rules, land will be designated in one of three categories: for growth, for renewal and for protection. Growth areas would see buildings allowed automatically, while land for renewal would have "permission in principle" with appropriate checks. Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONBs) and the green belt will be protected, but the full criteria for designating land has not been specified.
“To decide where and how to build, it’s essential we have good environmental knowledge” added Kate.
“How can we decide what to protect, if we don’t know what is out there? We need to know where the floodplains, ancient woodlands, local wildlife sites and wildlife corridors are before decisions are made.”
The Stoke and Urban Newcastle Rediscovering Its Secret Environments (SUNRISE) project, of which the Trust is a lead partner, highlights how making new urban habitats and connecting green spaces can make a better place for communities.
Kate added: “The Redhill Business Park in Stafford is another great example and was shortlisted for an environmental award. It conserves an important wetland and large great crested newt population, and features new meadows created by SWT and a circular walk for visitors. It’s more like a park than an industrial estate and has been very popular with major tech companies. This is what green development looks like and it is exactly what the county needs.”