Overhaul urged for English planning system

A report for Britain’s finance ministry has recommended major reforms to the English land-use planning system to encourage development. Environmental groups warned that the report put the interests of business above those of local communities and the environment. The report recommends a new national planning body to take decisions on major infrastructure projects like power stations, motorways and airport extensions and suggests streamlining the planning process. Development on "green belt" land around cities should be made easier, it also says. See Barker report and FoE response.