We are a regional umbrella group campaigning to save green belt and green space across Greater Manchester. The White Paper Planning for the Future (PftF) moves away from planning based on evidence and is not fit for purpose, it puts the interests of landowners and developers before the community and is an end to community participation and the promise of a democratic planning system.

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