‘Historic moment’ as planning gets green overhaul
Planning for climate change took a step forward today with the announcement of three new planning policy statements.
Housing minister John Healey said the overhaul of planning rules - on climate change, the natural environment and coastal change - would give councils a ‘green planning handbook’.
He also announced two new areas – in east Devon and Fareham – that have been added to the second wave of eco-town developments, and gave details of a £10m ‘green skills’ package for eco-towns sites announced in December.
Planning and environmental groups called the announcements a ‘historic moment for planning’.
Hugh Ellis, chief planner at the Town and Country Planning Association, said: ‘This policy is one of the most dramatic and significant steps forward in the development of spatial planning. The profession has to step up to the challenge of taking communities to a low carbon future.’
A consultation has been launched today on the new climate change planning policy, details of which can be found here: http://www.communities.gov.uk/news/corporate/1499863
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