1,000 signatures reached
To: Robert Jenrick MP Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government. Christopher Pincher MP Minister of State for Housing and Planning
Stop developers over-turning local democracy to destroy habitats.
We are asking for a moratorium on developments that were granted on appeal where local councils refused on Environmental and Biodiversity grounds and in the light of our responsibility under the Paris agreement on Climate Change.
Why is this important?
Developers are able to appeal on local planning decisions against the wishes of local people and local councils. This cannot be right. All over the country local decisions on planning applications are being overruled by central government.
Thorpe Woodlands is a prime example of landowners having the financial and legal means to have a local decision, supported by local residents and taken by the local councils, overturned through the appeal system. We are therefore asking for the planning system to be changed to prevent such appeals in the future and for local council decisions on planning applications to be respected.
Planning permission was granted on appeal in 2019 to build 300 houses on Racecourse plantations in Thorpe Woodlands which was designated a County Wildlife Site in 1997, this was against local opposition to the development. Thorpe Woodlands is home to a rich and varied ecosystem. This includes rare plants such as Chaffweed and Allseed and over 40 identified ancient woodland indicators such as Scaly Male Fern and is an important site for the Soprano Pipistrelle Bat. Any building on this site, will threaten this ecosystem and will close down any chance of restoring the native habitat.
We need vision and change to find solutions to the current climate emergency and to rapid biodiversity loss. We need to plant trees to lock down carbon emissions. Woodlands need conservation and protection not exploitation for profit.
Thorpe Woodlands is a prime example of landowners having the financial and legal means to have a local decision, supported by local residents and taken by the local councils, overturned through the appeal system. We are therefore asking for the planning system to be changed to prevent such appeals in the future and for local council decisions on planning applications to be respected.
Planning permission was granted on appeal in 2019 to build 300 houses on Racecourse plantations in Thorpe Woodlands which was designated a County Wildlife Site in 1997, this was against local opposition to the development. Thorpe Woodlands is home to a rich and varied ecosystem. This includes rare plants such as Chaffweed and Allseed and over 40 identified ancient woodland indicators such as Scaly Male Fern and is an important site for the Soprano Pipistrelle Bat. Any building on this site, will threaten this ecosystem and will close down any chance of restoring the native habitat.
We need vision and change to find solutions to the current climate emergency and to rapid biodiversity loss. We need to plant trees to lock down carbon emissions. Woodlands need conservation and protection not exploitation for profit.
