U-turn on planning reform opens opportunity for progress on climate and nature
Rebecca Murray10 Sep 2021
With the government abandoning its attempt to write communities out of planning decisions, forthcoming legislation later this year may be the chance to finally align the planning system with the climate and nature emergencies. But, as Senior Planner Rebecca Murray explains, the most recent policy documents released by government do anything but that.
Privatising the planning system: just for the few?
Naomi Luhde-Thompson, Senior Planner14 Jan 2021
Why proposed planning reforms are socially unjust and bad for climate change.
Why council action on climate is vital
Sandra Bell08 Dec 2020
Sandra Bell explains why local council action is vital to achieving net zero and why the government must give them greater support as recommended by the Climate Change Committee.
Friends of the Earth's response to changes in the current planning system
Kate Gordon, Senior Planner12 Nov 2020
The government is proposing changes to the current planning system. Our response outlines our concerns that these will make it harder for local authorities to take account of sustainable development and climate change in planning decisions, remove local democratic oversight and reduce fairness and transparency.
Planning for the future - Friends of the Earth response to the White Paper
Naomi Luhde-Thompson, Kate Gordon12 Nov 2020
The government recently consulted on its proposed radical reforms to the planning system. We outlined our concerns that these will diminish local accountability, erode local democracy by curtailing the right of communities to influence planning and development in their area and fail to tackle the urgent climate and ecological emergencies.
The Bee Cause: Are Britain’s bees and pollinators back from the brink?
Paul de Zylva, Nature campaigner04 Nov 2019
Paul de Zylva looks back at the Bee Cause campaign and assesses whether Welsh and English action plans to halt the decline of bees are working.
The future of the built environment – travel, green space and people power
24 Sep 2019
Craig Bennett shares his ideas for making cities healthier and more sustainable places with Joanna Watson.
Why our planning system must be made fit for purpose
Kate Gordon29 Jul 2019
Good planning is essential to protect the environment from development pressures. But recent reforms threaten to compromise the ability of the planning system as a whole to deliver in the public interest.
Citizen Participation and Popular Education in the City
Dr Eurig Scandrett01 Sep 2013External link
How citizen participation in cities can contribute to wellbeing within environmental limits.
Reviving the city
28 Feb 1991External link
A book published by Friends of the Earth in 1991 about a pathway towards sustainable urban development.