Construction National

The Construction Products Association has welcomed the government’s new National Planning Policy Framework, which has been published today.Commenting on the publication, Michael Ankers Chief Executive at the Association’s, said:  ‘There has been enormous confusion about planning policy in this country since the last Election and this at a time when we have needed urgently to encourage economic growth.

‘This document should put an end to that confusion and we are particularly pleased to see the government has reaffirmed the long-standing presumption in favour of sustainable development. What they have to do now is to ensure that local authorities support fully this objective in the way they consider each and every planning application within their area.

‘Improving the country’s infrastructure and the rest of our built environment is a key component of our economic recovery and the creation of a low carbon economy. This Framework should reassure the environmental lobby that these developments do not harm areas of significant environmental importance, but without the interminable planning delays that we have had in the past and which only served to discourage large international companies from investing in the UK.

‘There is now an urgent need for local authorities to prepare up-to-date local plans for their areas, in consultation with local people and local businesses and we are encouraging all our members to participate in this process.’