MoD should have to comply with planning system

12 December 2001

The Council for National Parks ⁽¹⁾ is calling for a change to the planning system so that the Ministry of Defence (MoD) and other Government Departments have to comply with the planning system like any other developer. At the moment the Crown is outside the formal planning process which leaves National Parks and other nationally important landscapes vulnerable to damaging major developments.

The Government’s Planning Green paper has been published today (12 December) and promises one of the biggest shake ups of the planning system since its inception in 1947 CNP will be pushing for the removal of Crown exemption to the planning system ⁽²⁾ .

The current system effectively allows the MoD to intensify or change its use of a military training area without having to seek the approval of the local planning authority. Any other developer would be required to submit a planning application which would then be rigorously examined against the relevant policies and environmental assessment of the impacts of the proposal.

CNP Director Vicki Elcoate said: ‘There is a loophole highlighted by the recent decision by the Government to allow the major development of the Otterburn Training Area in the Northumberland National Park ⁽³⁾ . This development is already very damaging but could lead to further major increases and changes in military training use without any requirement for a planning application or environmental assessment.’

"There is every likelihood that current weapons will be replaced with new ones before long and they may have totally different environmental impacts. Its wrong that the MoD - unlike other developers - should stand outside the planning system when it comes to routine training activities which can cause serious environmental damage."

Notes to editors

1. The Council for National Parks is the national charity that works to protect and enhance the National Parks of England and Wales, and areas that merit National Park status, and promote understanding and quiet enjoyment of them for the benefit of all.

2. All developments by the Crown – i.e. all Government Departments - are currently not subject to the planning system. Instead Government Departments follow a voluntary process where a Notice of Proposed Development is submitted to the local planning authority. Historically the Ministry of Defence has not submitted a Notice of Proposed Development for intensification of use or change in military activity that has not involved any building work. The Planning Green Paper promises to examine the issue of Crown exemption in February 2002.

3. In October 2001 the MoD were given permission by the Secretary of State to proceed with the development of major infrastructure in the Otterburn Training Area in the Northumberland National Park to enable training with the tracked 45-tonne AS90 gun and the Multi Launch Rocket System (MLRS). This includes 16km of new roads and other development that will directly destroy 25 hectares of upland habitat, disturb rare birds and other wildlife and bring rocket noise and pollution to a remote and peaceful area. The conditions attached to the development by the Secretary of State will effectively allow further changes including the introduction of a replacement training rocket for the MLRS without public scrutiny or permission from the planning authority. CNP, the Northumberland National Park Authority and a range of other organisations strongly objected to the proposals on the basis of the impact on the National Park. After a lengthy Public Inquiry that highlighted the very severe impact on the National Park permission was given for the development on the basis of overriding national need for the development.

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Ruth Chambers, Head of Policy on
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