Organisations

Thank you for developing this People's Charter. It is much needed. It is time our collective voices are heard. If a Climate Emergency has been declared by a public body, it should not be able to be ignored. All planning applications should have consideration of the CE at the heart of the proposals. Citizens should be a key stakeholder in every planning application - not an afterthought. Citizens' Advocates should be appointed to ensure the focus is on what citizens need - not on developer profits! In addition, communities should have the same right of access to public funds to raise challenges as Local Authorities do! As things stand, we have to raise money through donations, this is not the case for Local Authorities or Developers.

The planning system in England is predicated upon democratic accountability—accountability that be maintained, and indeed strengthened, in any changes to the planning process.

We are the umbrella organisation for the movement of over 7,000 local Friends of Parks Groups throughout the UK, all of whom are entitled to have a real say over anything which affects their local public green space or local community

It will erode what little rights we have under the current planning process.

Our planning system is under threat. Planning matters because it gives us rights and powers over what happens in our communities. Given the public health and climate change crises, now is the time to make sure we have a system that works for the public interest.

It is so important that we preserve local democratic control over planning decisions and ensure that environmental issues have key priority

Sustain believes the planning system should be responsive to communities that want to shape the place they live to bring about sustainable local food systems. Places where policy makers, growers, food retailers, food businesses and consumers work in partnership will be healthy communities. Communities should have a voice not only at the policy stage but also in responding to details of a specific proposal to ensure all impacts have been taken into account and all possible opportunities have been identified. Food partnerships can bring a wealth of expertise to decision making. For more information on our position regarding the proposed planning reforms, please see: https://www.sustainweb.org/news/oct20-planning-for-the-future/