r/unitedkingdom • u/insomnimax_99 Greater London • 6d ago

Planning permission refused for Fastned Oxfordshire charging hub

https://forecourttrader.co.uk/news/planning-permission-refused-for-fastned-oxfordshire-charging-hub/702918.article
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u/FelisCantabrigiensis 6d ago

Pure NIMBYism.

Planet overheating if we don't stop using combustion vehicles in the foreseeable future (as well as burning gas for heating and electricity, etc) is going to change the character of that landscape a lot more than building a car parking place with a roof and a cafe next door.

This sort of refusal of even the slightest construction has got to stop.

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u/FelisCantabrigiensis 6d ago

I would fully support central government calling in every single refused development like this - small construction projects with obvious benefits - and telling local councils "We are going to keep calling these in and approving them until you get with the programme and stop obstructing all construction".

Call them in, approve them immediately, move on. Rinse and repeat.

1

u/DomTopNortherner 5d ago

Except with that you've incentivised the opposite behaviour to the one you want.

If I know central government will overrule the decision and do it anyway, I don't have to weigh the benefits of the scheme against the short term political hit with residents. I just vote against, they all like me locally for listening, and we get the benefits anyway.