Report claims energy system failings holding back job hopes

Dec 7 2009 by Adrian Pearson, The Journal

Planners told to find some reasons to say ‘yes’ for a change

ENERGY bosses say one of the biggest problems facing their efforts to kick start a jobs boom is the planning system.

The region’s leading energy companies have slammed the planning system as not fit for purpose and accused councillors across the region of not considering the greater good when making their decision.

They are calling for planning officers in the region to be encouraged to think of ways to pass schemes such as wind farms or power stations rather than looking for objections.

And a time limit should be imposed to stop the “open ended” planning process deterring would-be investors.

Mark Dowdall, environment and community director at the County Durham energy company Banks Group, said: “We are competing for investment with companies from across Europe where the planning system is much easier, where a road or a power station is passed with support because it benefits the whole nation.

“Here we cannot tell investors that they will be helped by the system.

“At the moment the Government is proposing to streamline things and make it easier for major applications to be considered in this way, but a change of Government could see that scrapped.

“In reality if you want to do something here that will help the country and create jobs you have a long period of uncertainty the moment you get involved in the planning process, sometimes going on for years, and that does not help anyone.”