Planning
Planning guidance
AEF’s new planning resource is now available
Worried about an airport expansion? Wondering how to influence a planning decision?
AEF has published an online handbook, "Airports and Planning" , which guides readers through all stages of the planning process and how you
can be involved.
The handbook - designed to give general readers an accessible overview of the
environmental impacts of airports, as well as offering practical advice for campaigners
- covers where to get information, how to respond to planning applications and
public inquiries, and what you can do to influence national policy. Offering a
complete revision of our 1995 publication Aviation, the environment and planning law, the new guide outlines the latest developments in legislation and provides up-to-date
information about environmental impacts.
Chapters can be downloaded for free from the Planning section of the AEF website. (Feb 2008)
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There is a great deal of excellent information on many aspects of planning, relating
to aviation, on the Aviation Environment Federation's website.
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Planning Reform Bill
The Bill had its second reading in the House of Commons on 10th December.
The Planning Disaster coalition, of many of the leading environmental NGOs in
the UK, have prepared a briefing document.
Airports (England) will only meet the threshold to be considered a Major Infrastructure
Project (MIP) if they will be capable of handling 10 million passengers per year,
or if runway extensions will increase airport capacity by at least 10 million
passengers per year. (This has been amended from 5 million at the White Paper
stage).
Previous stage:
Planning White Paper (consultation summer 2007)
"Streamlining of the Planning Process":
Following the controversial reports by Kate Barker and Sir Rod Eddington, the
Government have published a White Paper on proposals to reform the planning system.
The Government's Planning White Paper was released on 22nd May, and will fast-track
massive and damaging new developments, increase UK CO2 emissions, and reduce the
right of local people to object to schemes that threaten their communities. Green
campaigners have condemned ministers for "steamrollering" objections to major
new schemes for nuclear power stations, airport runways, motorways, waste incinerators
and even wind farms. People fear the proposals for Major Infrastructure Projects
(MIPs) will reduce the level of real community involvement in deciding what gets
built in their local area.
The Barker Report suggested there should be a presumption in favour of development,
and proposed the creation of an independent Planning Commission to take decisions
on major infrastructure projects, such as major roads, nuclear power stations,
waste incinerators or airports. The Eddington Transport study made similiar proposals
for streamlining these contentious planning decisions. Where in the past, at
planning inquiries, it was possible to challenge the economic justification for
an airport development, this would no longer be the case, if the planning system
is streamlined.
The Government wants to fast track new major developments – whether people want
them or not. The Planning White Paper will effectively silence local opposition
to big polluting projects. Members of the public have until 17th August 2007 to respond to the Government's proposals.
Contained in the White Paper are proposals to:
- Streamline major projects like nuclear power stations, airports, major roads
and large incinerators.
- Stop you from having a say by removing your right to be heard in Public Inquiries
and local plans.
Communities throughout the UK will be faced with new power stations, nuclear
waste sites and other major energy projects. Plans for airports, major roads
and large waste incinerators will affect England only. These proposals will lead
to a major increase in CO2 emissions – at odds with the Government's aim to tackle
climate change.
"Planning Disaster", a coalition of the major environmental, conservation and civic NGOs (Non Governmental
Organisations) - including AirportWatch - has been formed, to campaign about our
concerns about the White Paper.
AirportWatch briefing on the Planning White Paper
AirportWatch believes that part of the reason for the length of inquiries such
as that for Terminal 5 at Heathrow was poor preparation of the application.
“Consultation” as envisaged by the Planning White Paper would prevent rigorous
examination of the economic aspects of any specific expansion proposal, and for
the real need for it. We believe that all National Policy Statements must be
approved by both Houses of Parliament.
The consultation ended 17th August 2007.
The Woodland Trust commented on the White Paper, when it was published.
You can see their comments at:
Planning Policy Guidance 13: Transport
A summary of Planning Policy Guidance 13: Transport can be seen on the Communities
and Local Government website.
Planning Policy Guidance 24: Planning and Noise
This is the Government guidance on noise. A summary of the document can be found
on the Communities and Local Government website.
Natural Environment & Rural Communities Act (2006) NERC
Chapter 16, Section 40 of the Natural Environment & Rural Communities Act
(2006), on Biodiversity, states that: "Every public authority must, in exercising
its functions, have regard, so far as is consistent with the proper exercise of
those functions, to the purpose of conserving biodiversity".
The NERC can be found at the link below, and also section 40 as a separate document.
In the Planning Section
Airport Master Plans
This section of the website contains information relating to legal aspects of planning in the UK.
Planning Policy Statements (PPS) are the new form of the older Planning Policy Guidance (PPG). As an old PPGs comes up for review, it is reproduced - after rewriting and public consultation - as a PPS. Information on a few, relevant to aviation, is given below. A full list of the Planning Policy Statements can be found on the website of the Department for Communities and Local Government, at http://www.communities.gov.uk/index.asp?id=1143803
Latest Planning Information:
(Page updated: 29th November 2006)
