Anyone that is minded to believe the government’s recent hurried soothing words about how “sustainable development” doesn’t mean relaxing heritage protection measures might care to look at this – a policy statement published today by The Department for Business Innovation and Skills.

It seems that the reform of the planning system will not merely enshrine  a presumption in favour of sustainable development – it will entail an all out promotion of it!

Look at these bits of the Action Plan :

H2 Ensure Natural England has a remit to promote sustainable development
H1 Ensure the Environment Agency has a remit to promote sustainable development
H3 Ensure English Heritage has a remit to promote sustainable development
H4 Ensure the Highways Agency has a remit to promote sustainable development
H5 Ensure the Health and Safety Executive has a remit to promote sustainable development