New planning policy threatens access to nature
‘The government’s proposed planning policy will strike a fatal blow to the creation of new village greens and does nothing to safeguard and improve people’s vital access to nature.’ So declares Helen Monger, one of our case officers. The society, which is Britain’s oldest national conservation body, has responded to the Ministry for Housing Communities and Local Government’s consultation on the National Planning Policy Framework. …
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Our victory on map scales
We have compelled the Planning Inspectorate to adopt new internal guidelines on the maps used for common-land applications. In October 2024 Moreton C Cullimore (Gravels) Ltd, represented by Burges Salmon LLP, applied to the Planning Inspectorate under section 16 of the Commons Act 2006 to deregister and replace a hectare of Lower Cow Pasture, part of Shuthonger Common north…
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We deplore proposed cut to statutory-planning advisors
We have slated plans by the Ministry of Housing, Communities, and Local Government (MHCLG) to strip powers from the Gardens Trust and Sport England, which are statutory consultees in the planning process. We say this poses a threat to vital green spaces throughout England. We were responding to MHCLG’s consultation on Reforms to the Statutory Consultee System. There are currently 27 bodies which are statutory…
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Green spaces rescued from damaging law-change
We are delighted that a damaging amendment to the Planning and Infrastructure Bill, proposed by Lord Banner and others, was dropped. The amendment aimed to remove long-standing public rights on green spaces when the land is sold by a local authority. It was debated in the House of Lords on Monday night (3 November) but not then moved. We had urged peers to oppose it and are highly relieved that the amendment…
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Public rights on green spaces to be expunged?
An amendment[1] to the Planning and Infrastructure Bill, due to be debated in the House of Lords on Monday 3 November, aims to remove long-standing public rights on green spaces when the land is sold by a local authority. We are urging peers to oppose it. The amendment would make it much easier for local…
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Government’s new planning policies give green spaces the cold shoulder
We have expressed our fears for the future of open spaces in the government’s revised National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) published today (12 December 2024). Says Kate Ashbrook, our general secretary: ‘We called for legal protection and long-term maintenance of urban green space; standards for the amount of green space in development, and a duty on…
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Green-space neglect in government’s new policies
We are deeply concerned at the direction taken by the government’s revised National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF). Our case officer Nicola Hodgson has responded to the consultation on the revised policy. You can read Nicola’s full response here. ‘The government has not proposed any significant changes to the NPPF to support the creation and protection…
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Green-space gap in new planning policies
‘The planning system should give the creation and protection of green space and public paths the same priority as other infrastructure. Sadly, this is not reflected in the proposed revised National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF).’ So declared Nicola Hodgson, one of our case officers. ‘This would have been a good opportunity to put green spaces,…
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Land at Nesfield, North Yorkshire, restored as common
We have welcomed the Planning Inspectorate’s decision to grant the society’s application to register as common approximately one third of a hectare of land in the village of Nesfield in North Yorkshire (just over two miles north-west of Ilkley). The land comprises two pieces of grassland separated by a path which leads from Gill Lane…
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We help to save Sneedhams Green common, Gloucestershire, from encroachment
We welcome an inspector’s decision to refuse commons consent for works on Sneedhams Green in Gloucestershire. Black Box Planning Ltd, on behalf of the G W Hughes Will Trust, had applied to the Planning Inspectorate for approval to construct access ways across the common, which is south of Matson and close to the M5. The…
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