We remain doubtful that the Infrastructure Planning Commission model is workable. We do not share Ministers' belief that it will, or should, take the politics out of decisions on controversial infrastructure projects.

Paul Milner - CPRE

THE newly appointed chairman of the Government’s controversial Infrastructure Planning Commission has received a cool – and sardonic – welcome from the Campaign to Protect Rural England.

The quango has been the subject of widespread criticism since the moment it was announced by Gordon Brown, who says its job will be to speed up the planning process for major projects like nuclear power stations or new airport runways.

But almost all conservation groups fear that it will take many controversial planning decisions – like windfarms, for instance – out of the hands of local planning committees and force them through by Government dictat.

Sir Michael Pitt has been appointed to lead the new quango but the CPRE is asking: "Is he taking over an impossible task?" Whilst wishing Sir Peter the best of luck, senior CPRE planner Paul Milner noted sourly:

"We remain doubtful that the Infrastructure Planning Commission model is workable. We do not share Ministers' belief that it will, or should, take the politics out of decisions on controversial infrastructure projects. We remember that only eight years ago, the late Lord Nolan said that attempting to do so would be a recipe for chaos."