New call for Eco-towns public inquiries

In a new statement the Town and Country Planning Association has called for a full public local enquiry to be held into any Eco-town proposal not already allocated in a Development plan. The statement follows an in-depth debate of the charity's members who also renewed their support for the Eco-town concept.

TCPA Chief Executive Gideon Amos:

"Our members are clear - the highest standards can be and must be achieved in any Eco-towns that go ahead but key safeguards are needed to the process and we are, therefore calling for a full public local enquiry in any location not already allocated for development."

The Association highlights that an inquiry could be provided following 'call in' of a planning application for determination by the Secretary of State. An inquiry would be required by law if the provisions of the New Towns Act 1981 were used to determine whether the development should go ahead, since these gurantee a public enquiry if any objector desires one.

Gideon Amos said:

"Local authority led development plans remain the best way to bring forward all development. However, it is often a painfully slow process and the government has chosen instead to act much faster because of the urgency of a changing climate and because of a shortage of family homes. This has raised concerns about whether planning applications will be decided on their merits."

"Due process, there is now vital to the Eco-towns programme and the TCPA's call is for full public local inquiries to ive transparency, fairness and proper scrutiny."

The TCPA statement calls for whatever process is used to serve the interests of natural justice including a right to be heard afforded to those affected and environmental assesments as normally required.

Gideon Amos added:

"The Association's members also concluded that the Development Plan process will have to work considerabley faster if politicians' desire to have big proposals, such as for Eco-towns and airports decided quickly. The TCPA believes progression of proposals for five to seven years through regional and local plans is too slow."

The statement proposes the consideration of an expedited plan making process that could run alongside consideration of major planning application. The Association aims to explore this further at the fringe event "Plan Led or Plan Dead" to be held on 11th July and chained by Chris Shepley of the TCPA Policy Council and also a Past President of the Royal Town Planning Institute.

The TCPA has been working A CLG's advisor on the quality standards that must be met by Eco-town developments. The charity has has no involvement in the Government's choice of processes, nor in the listing of the potential locations themselves.

This is the TCPA's first statement on the processing of potential Eco-towns. The statement was devised and agreed by the Association's elected Policy Council.

Gideon Amos concluded:

"Members of the TCPA have conclusively expressed their renewed agreement that Eco-towns can, as new settlements, offer major sustainability gains on more piecemeal forms of development. The Association will now work with renewed enthusiasm in pursuit of its objectives for homes, communities and sustainability through planning, for all kinds of developmeny, including working on Eco-towns which have much to offer the future of our country."