Planning laws that put people and nature first

SIR – This week James Brokenshire, the new Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, inherits the task of reforming the planning rule book for England, with the aim of finding a balance between supporting growth and protecting our precious natural assets.

To build as much as we can as quickly as possible would be disastrous. Our natural world is vanishing before us, and people feel disconnected from nature.

While more homes are certainly needed, our planning system cannot exist purely to facilitate economic growth and new housing. It is about managing land in the public interest – socially, environmentally and economically – to create and support resilient, healthy and sustainable communities.

We should recognise how we can use planning powers to deliver benefits to health, education and the environment: benefits we’ll only realise if we resist the temptation to reduce housing development to a numbers game. Mr Brokenshire can make his mark by refocusing the planning system on delivering the globally agreed Sustainable Development Goals. To earn public confidence, the Government must focus on the needs of communities and the environment, building enough high-quality homes while protecting our fragile natural world. Paul O’brien

Chief Executive, Association of Public Service Excellence Stephen Joseph

Chief Executive, Campaign for Better Transport Crispin Truman

Chief Executive, Campaign to Protect Rural England Craig Bennett

Chief Executive, Friends of the Earth Chris Corrigan Director, RSPB England Kate Henderson

Chief Executive, Town and Country Planning Association