As the Government begins to explain what the ‘Big Society’ might mean for local communities, the Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE) and the Environmental Law Foundation (ELF) are calling on Ministers not to pull a U-turn on their promise to rebalance rights of appeal in the planning process.

Currently the only way for local people to question bad development granted planning permission is in the high court, which can be massively expensive, risky and slow. Conversely, developers enjoy an unlimited right to appeal planning decisions.

CPRE and ELF today (August 19) called for a new, limited public right of appeal against bad decisions. This is a vital right if the ‘Big Society’ is going to deliver a bigger role for local people in the planning decisions that affect them, without the huge risk of having to go to court.

Alongside this call, the two organisations are also publishing a new guide, ‘Plan B: How to challenge bad developments in court’ that explains the only way currently available for concerned members of the public to challenge bad planning decisions, through the High Court.

Paul Miner, CPRE Senior Planning Campaigner says: “The Big Society should be about having stronger rights and more affordable remedies to counter bad planning decisions. Going all the way to the High Court for local issues is just ridiculous. It’s often risky, expensive and should strictly be a last resort.

“A limited public right of planning appeal doesn’t stop all new development as some claim. But developers will have to meaningfully negotiate with local communities to ensure that development happens.” Download: ‘Plan B: How to challenge bad developments in court,’