Rewards should be offered to communities that put the natural environment at the heart of planning decisions, according to a coalition of green campaigners.
Among a series of recommendations from environmental groups including the National Trust, WWF, RSPB, Greenpeace, The Wildlife Trusts and Friends of the Earth, political parties have been urged to grant local regions more influence to address challenges including residential energy efficiency and planning.
The Greener Britain report argues neighbourhoods should be empowered to draw up plans for their areas on housing and transport while promoting locally appropriate sustainable development.
In return, communities should be rewarded through a new Sustainable Neighbourhoods Deal that provides access to funding streams, new rights and incentives.
In proposals that build on the Local Enterprise Partnership model, campaigners called for central government funding pools to be made available to neighbourhoods for local transport, community energy and food production.
The coalition of groups added that all major cities and county regions should be granted the same transport powers and funding as London.
‘Many environmental challenges can be met most effectively when problems are addressed locally, at a neighbourhood level, from a more exciting and equitable way of producing and owning energy through to how we grow food,’ the report said.
Peter Nixon, director of conservation at the National Trust said: ‘Next May's election gives all parties the chance to demonstrate their commitment to the environment. We're calling for manifestos that commit to more and better local decision making; the provision of high quality local green spaces; and a bold plan for nature's recovery.’
Dr. Mike Clark, chief executive of RSPB, said: ‘Greener Britain is our challenge to all parties: to change the world for the better, for people and for nature, by adopting our big ideas for a greener future.’
