Countries of the World/COUNTRYS.BIN/dp/0056/00566.txt

Text File | 1991-06-24 | 22KB | 380 lines

$Unique_ID{COW00566}
$Pretitle{405}
$Title{United Kingdom
Planning and the Environment in Britain}
$Subtitle{}
$Author{Embassy of the United Kingdom, Washington DC}
$Affiliation{Embassy of the United Kingdom, Washington DC}
$Subject{development
planning
local
urban
areas
inner
new
plans
programme
government}
$Date{1990}
$Log{Red Deer*0056601.scf
}
Country:     United Kingdom
Book:        Planning and the Environment in Britain
Author:      Embassy of the United Kingdom, Washington DC
Affiliation: Embassy of the United Kingdom, Washington DC
Date:        1990

Planning and the Environment in Britain

[See Red Deer: Courtesy Embassy of the United Kingdom, New York.]

     Through its comprehensive system of land-use planning and development
control, Britain has had considerable success in resolving the conflicting
demands of industry, commerce, housing, transport, agriculture and recreation
and in reducing environmental pollution. The underlying aim is to promote
efficiency, economy and amenity in the use and development of land, respecting
both the needs of development and the interests of conservation. There is a
statutory system of land-use planning applying to virtually every kind of
development, and there are laws dealing specifically with environmental
health, the control of pollution and the conservation of the natural
environment. Most development requires local `planning permission', and
applications are dealt with in the light of development plans (which set out
strategies for each area on such matters as housing, transport, industry and
open land) and of any other material considerations. However, many minor
developments are subject to a general permission under which they do not need
a specific planning application; the opportunity is being taken to expand this
general permission wherever possible. Many voluntary organisations take an
active interest in planning, conservation and the control of pollution.

Planning

     The system of land-use planning in Great Britain involves a centralised
structure under the Secretaries of State for the Environment, Wales and
Scotland and compulsory planning duties for local planning authorities. The
Department of the Environment brings together the major responsibilities in
England for land-use planning, housing and construction, countryside policy
and environmental protection. The Welsh Office and the Scottish Development
Department have broadly equivalent responsibilities. Strategic planning in
England and Wales, excluding London, is primarily the responsibility of the
county councils and the metropolitan district councils, while district
councils and, in London, the councils of the London boroughs and the City of
London are responsible for local plans and development control, the main
housing functions and many environmental health matters. In Scotland planning
functions are undertaken by regional and district councils whose
responsibilities are divided on a basis broadly similar to that in England
and Wales. In the more rural regions and the islands, all planning
responsibilities are carried out by the regional and islands councils
respectively. In Northern Ireland the Department of the Environment for
Northern Ireland is responsible for planning matters through six divisional
planning offices which work closely with the district councils. The councils
have local environmental health responsibilities.

Development Plans

     The development plan system in England and Wales involves `structure' and
`local' plans. Structure plans are prepared by county planning authorities
and require ministerial approval. They set out broad policies for the
development and other use of land, including measures for the improvement of
the physical environment and traffic management. Local plans provide detailed
guidance for development expected to start within about ten years; they are
normally prepared by district planning authorities, although sometimes by
county planning authorities, and must conform generally to the approved
structure plan. In exceptional cases, with ministerial approval, the adoption
of a local plan may precede the approval of a structure plan. Local plans are
adopted by the planning authorities without being subject to ministerial
approval unless called in by the Secretary of State. All plans are kept under
review and may be altered from time to time. In Greater London and the other
six metropolitan areas in England structure and local plans are gradually
being replaced by new unitary development plans, which contain both general
policies and detailed proposals for land use and development control.

     Scotland has a broadly similar system, with structure plans being
prepared by regional or islands authorities, and local plans by the districts.
Regional and islands authorities may also produce a regional report outlining
their priorities and policies. Under Northern Ireland's single-tier system,
plans are prepared by the Department of the Environment for Northern Ireland.

Public Participation

     Members of the public and interested organisations are given an
opportunity to express their views on the planning of their areas during the
formative stages of the structure and local plans. The local planning
authorities must ensure adequate publicity for matters proposed for inclusion
in the plans; representations may be made about them to the authorities. These
opportunities for public participation are additional to provisions for
objecting to prepared plans. In the case of structure plans the Secretary of
State normally holds an examination in public of matters on which he or she
requires more information in order to reach a decision. In the case of local
plans objectors have a right to be heard at a public local inquiry held by the
planning authorities. There are similar provisions for participation in the
preparation of unitary development plans and for making objections to them.
Measures to improve the efficiency of planning inquiries and simplify appeals
procedures were announced by the Government in 1986.

     Where specific proposals for development differ substantially from the
intentions of a development plan, they must be publicised locally. Other
schemes affecting a large number of people are usually advertised by the local
planning authority, and applications seeking permission for certain types of
development-for example, those affecting historic buildings and conservation
areas-must also be advertised. (In Scotland there is a system of neighbour
notification of planning applications, under which the applicant must notify
the proprietors of land and buildings adjoining the site of a proposed
development at the same time as the application is submitted to the local
planning authority.) The applicant has a right of appeal to the Secretary of
State if planning permission is refused or is granted subject to conditions.
Most appeals are transferred for decision to inspectors (in Scotland,
reporters) appointed by the Secretary of State.

     Similar provision is made in Northern Ireland for public participation in
the planning process and for the hearing of representations at public
inquiries. For planning applications which do not give rise to public
inquiries there is a right of appeal to an independent Planning Appeals
Commission.

Major Schemes

     The Secretaries of State can direct that a planning application be
referred to them for decision. This power is exercised sparingly and usually
only in respect of proposals of national or regional importance which give
rise to substantial controversy-for example, proposals for a major new airport
or power station. The applicant and the local planning authority have the
right to be heard by a person appointed by the Secretary of State and a public
inquiry is normally held for this purpose. In the case of development schemes
of exceptional importance the departments concerned have set up procedures to
aid the progress of the inquiry by helping the parties to resolve procedural
matt