27th
August
2010
Cutting eco-advisory bodies too far is a big mistake, warns Atmos
Government cuts in Natural England, the DEFRA-funded body that advises on biodiversity, mean that a lack of authoritative and consistent guidance is set to cause confusion among planners. This will arise just as they are getting to grips with the increased powers they will have with the planned abolition of the last government's Regional Spatial Strategies (RSS), which provided regional and sub regional targets for development.
The cuts are already adding significantly to the costs and frustrations of developers. According to specialist environmental and renewable energy consultancy Atmos Consulting, there may be significant social and economic implications if planners grant ill-advised approvals or if they choose to deal with the potential confusion by simply refusing more applictions. It's a potential lose-lose scenario.
Natural England is already struggling with its workload, and now there has been confirmation that it's workforce is about to be cut by a third. In this, the International Year of Biodiversity, it has already largely withdrawn from one of it's previous roles as advisor to local planning authorities on matters such as the protection of England's endangered species. Planners now have to rely on standing advice, rather than having Natural England officers apply their expertise to case-specific issues.
"Greater onus will be placed on local planning authority ecologists, where these even exist, with a loss of the quality and consistency of advice on protecting at-risk species that Natural England has been providing," says Atmos Consulting managing director and ornithologist Stewart Lowther.
"The fate of species like the rare white tailed eagle, which will not now be reintroduced into its former breeding range in Suffolk, may seem a long way from home," said Mr Lowther, "but sooner or later these cuts are set to affect every community in the country."
Past experience of local councils determining the number of new houses to be built in local areas arguably led to significant under-provision in certain areas and poor spatial distribution of development.
The uncertainty caused by the cuts may also impact renewable energy development, with local authority planners taking the easy option and simply refusing more applications for renewable energy infrastructure. This is particularly concerning at a time when the UK is challenged with 2020 targets of generating 15 per cent of its energy consumption form renewable resources, with wind energy to provide about two thirds of this.
"It is therefore questionable that councils will actually make provision for the wind energy development. We, as consultants, may benefit by being called upon to plug the knowledge gap, but we still question the wisdom of the cuts."
Click here for more information on Atmos' ecology services.
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