Quote: "Don't blame the planners, they are merely trying to balance the demands of those who want to build (supermarkets, airports and so on) against those who don't (the usual nimby types, greenies and so on). "
It's not always the case that planning departments are in the pockets of developers. Equally it's not always the case that planning departments are influenced by the so-called "tree huggers".
There are often occasions where councillors reject large planning applications, but the applicants appeal to the planning inspectorate in Bristol (central government).
Developers often employ the kind of expensive lawyers that district councils cannot match because they are constrained by limited resources (ratepayers money).
Consequently, planning departments rejections are overturned and the result is large supermarkets within 100 yards of eachother, clone towns, and dying high streets and town centres.
Last edited by Fairdealfrank; 13th Jun 2012 at 21:38.