Ministers should have checked environmental effects of planning policy – High Court told
A government document that shapes planning decisions across England is unlawful, Friends of the Earth, said in a challenge today.
A government document that shapes planning decisions across England is unlawful, Friends of the Earth, said in a challenge today.
Fashion designer, Dame Vivienne Westwood, and her son, Joe Corre, took part in a Christmas-themed protest against government planning policy outside the Royal Courts of Justice this morning.
A second environmental group is taking legal action against the government over its new planning policy on fracking and onshore oil and gas.
The Environment Secretary, Michael Gove, has refused to renew a lease of land for oil drilling in Surrey because of the damage it could do to ancient woodland.
The anti-shale gas group, Talk Fracking, has taken the first step in what could be a court challenge to government policy.
The government has made changes to national planning policy on onshore oil and gas even though most of the people who took part in a consultation disagreed with them.
Local councils in England are to be required to develop policies that “facilitate” onshore oil and gas developments, under revised government guidelines.
Local communities hold the least power in the planning process and central government and developers hold the most, according to a survey of councillors across the UK.
In this Fracking Week in Parliament: Two Conservatives from shale gas areas quiz the government on fracking impacts: Mark Menzies (Fylde) asks about health and air quality monitoring Fiona Bruce (Congleton) asks about impacts on communities
Planners have recommended approval of the first shale gas exploration plans in Nottinghamshire.