The Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE) has urged the government to reject the “naïve and simplistic” recommendations of the Barker report in its forthcoming planning white paper.
The conservation body attacked treasury economist Kate Barker’s conclusion, that the planning system inhibits economic growth, as “one-sided” and “economically biased” as it today published a critique of her December 2006 review in to land use and planning.
Head of planning Marina Pacheco said: “We strongly believe that what Kate Barker sees as weaknesses in the system are actually strengths protecting our environment and our quality of life.
“As the finishing touches are put to the planning white paper it is critical that the government takes note of this damning critique and rethinks its approach to planning reform.
“The system needs to address environmental concerns like global warming while improving the environment and our quality of life.
“There is little evidence that planning is biased against development – in fact the opposite is the case.
“We urge the government to take note of this critique, which questions whether Kate Barker’s evidence really does point to a planning system which is unresponsive, costly and inefficient.”
The report, Deconstructing Barker – A one dimensional misunderstanding of a multidimensional issue, by consultants Levett-Therivel, argues for the continued protection of the green belt and accuses Barker of using “uncorroborated business anecdotes” to evidence her claim that “unacceptable delays” exist in the planning system.
