MP Warns Planning Bill Changes Will Railroad Through Heathrow Expansion
and leave urban greens spaces unprotected
Putney resident and MP Justine Greening has expressed concern at the new Planning Bill being railroaded through Parliament last week and its consequences locally.
The new Bill introduces an Infrastructure Planning Commission (IPC) which will take the decision of major infrastructure projects – like Heathrow expansion - out of local authorities’ hands. Also, Ms Greening voted for proposals that would have prevented over-development or so-called “garden grabbing’ by protecting urban green spaces but the proposals were rejected by Ministers.
Justine said:
“The new IPC will be an unelected quango that will decide on Heathrow expansion and other infrastructural developments. It will rubberstamp major proposals that fit in with new National Policy Statements (NPS) that in turn will be set by the Secretary of State. Under this new Planning Bill, Parliament will get no chance to amend or reject them.
So if Whitehall says we need a bigger Heathrow airport, we’ll get it, whether we want it or not. It is totally undemocratic and unacceptable. We didn’t even get enough time set aside by Ministers to debate it, let alone vote on it. When I had the chance previously I voted against it on behalf of our local community, but government MPs voted it through so it has become law.”
Justine also voted to change the Planning Bill to have special regard for preserving and protecting gardens and urban green spaces.
“As we have seen with the rejected Putney Place proposal there is massive pressure on over-development generally - that goes for urban green space too. Our experience shows we clearly need protection in the law to stop over-development of green spaces but again it was voted against by Government MPs. It is very frustrating that we missed such a clear opportunity to protect green spaces. Ministers seem to want more housing at any cost and any density and this bill is a green light to developers to build on any garden or urban green space they can get their hands on. The Planning Bill will stifle the voice of local residents and local councils – it is deeply concerning.”
December 4, 2008