"The problem we face at the moment is not that too many projects are being rejected, but that decisions either way take far too long and are too expensive"
Christopher Snelling, FTA
The Freight Transport Association says that the proposals for an Infrastructure Planning Commission to assess Major Infrastructure Projects will be a significant step forward for the UK economy as a whole.
This was in response to a Government consultation which closed last week, on planning reforms.
FTA’s Christopher Snelling said:
"The problem we face at the moment is not that too many projects are being rejected, but that decisions either way take far too long and are too expensive. For example, the Southampton Container Terminal’s proposals to develop port capacity at Dibden Bay took four years and £45m to get a rejection. If that decision had been reached in one year, we would now be three years closer to an alternative, more suitable development that would meet the urgent need of the UK for more port capacity.
"The Government’s proposals should address this issue, and give developers a more transparent process against which they can develop their proposals. This will promote the urgently needed investment in Britain’s transport infrastructure.’
Environment
The FTA has rejected claims that the environment will be adversely affected under the proposals.
Mr Snelling said:
"Environmental considerations should, and will, be an integral part of planning policy – but this debate right now is about the system, not the policy. The system should work, which means decisions, either way, given within a reasonable timeframe.
‘The debate about how environmental consideration fits into planning policy will come later, when the contents of the Government’s National Policy Statements are decided.
‘The long-term effect of these changes will be to make the UK more internationally competitive and to improve the standard of living of the people of this country, without cost to the environment.’