Introduction

In the previous chapter we introduced the idea that environmental protection and the regulation of land use and development are indivisible, through a historical account of legal controls and policies relating to land. The focus of this chapter is the significance for environmental protection of the current body of law and policy which provides the foundations of the planning system. In keeping with two of the main themes of this book – the move towards ‘integration’ (both of legal controls and of the consideration of environmental protection within a broader sweep of policy concerns), and enhancing participation in decision making – we analyse in particular the introduction of a system of integrated spatial planning by the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act (PCPA) 2004 (pp. 522–9) and the apparent consensus in planning theory and policy on enhancing participation (pp. 530–45). We consider the strides that have been taken to open up decision making beyond the confines of expert opinion, so as to include local knowledge, and a range of viewpoints about landscape and the relative values of competing objectives. We also explore the implications for participation of the move towards spatial planning which will enlarge, but undeniably complicate, planning agendas.