Today’s blog is written by George Kontou, Campaigner for RSPB England, on the power of our voices to shape local planning decisions. With a raft of new planning laws on the horizon, it’s more important than ever that we use our voices to speak up for nature. Cases like Portsmouth’s Tipner Development show just how powerful the voices of local citizens can be.
We recognise that the UK faces increasing demands on its land for housing, employment, renewable energy, and food production. Yet with a raft of new planning laws, housing developments, and infrastructure changes on the horizon, it’s more important than ever that these don’t happen at the expense of nature, and we use our voices to speak up for those that can’t
Our voices, as citizens, are so important. Many of us will have exercised our voting rights at the recent General Election, but we must not forget that this is just one of many ways we can participate in shaping our world. Like nature’s ecosystems, our planning systems work best when there’s a diverse array of individuals helping to shape and steer them to reach the best overall outcomes. There’s room for all of us at the table when it comes to making decisions about our local places
The Tipner West case in Portsmouth illustrates the need for creative, balanced solutions. This small peninsula, rich in wildlife and surrounded by internationally important protected habitats, faces threats from development plans by Portsmouth City Council. Tipner’s coastal grassland and neighbouring mudflats are home to large numbers of wintering birds like Brent Geese, Black-tailed Godwit and Dunlin, alongside diverse fish and invertebrate species. The mudflats are also precious carbon stores and house microorganisms that improve water quality across the Solent. This area's value is recognized through the highest possible level of wildlife protection. What’s more, local communities treasure having this life-enriching wildlife on their doorsteps.
However, the Council's plans for Tipner West contradict new legal duties under the Environment Act to protect and recover nature. Beyond this wild corner of Portsmouth Harbour, these plans further risk setting a dangerous national precedent by seeking exemption from the protections that prevent harm to these special areas. If approved, it would signal to decision-makers and developers across the UK that the bar has been lowered, opening the floodgates for many more developments to override these vital nature protections.
We don’t want the ‘Portsmouth Precent’ paving the way for damaging developments elsewhere. That’s why the RSPB and Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust have challenged the Council to meet their housing and employment goals without harming protected sites. We’re not opposed to the redevelopment of Tipner West, and we recognise that Portsmouth needs sustainable employment and housing development. But addressing these interconnected needs requires a more creative approach, one that recognises the inherent complexity of solutions that work for both people and planet. We believe that, with a bit of creativity, their proposals can do so much better. We previously presented the Council with a nature-positive vision for Tipner West that met their development needs within the environmental limits of the protected areas. The Council’s response was that this would cost too much money, but there must be another way, as we cannot continue to let nature pay the price. Every time we do, we simply fuel nature’s decline.
Public support has been vital in this campaign from the beginning. Over 24,000 people signed the #DontGoThere petition, urging Portsmouth City Council to scrap their original plans. A record 9,000 draft Local Plan consultation responses highlighted the public’s commitment to protecting this land. These actions led to the Council pausing highly damaging plans for the ‘super-peninsula’ proposals. This was a significant achievement - the Council's reconsideration of these plans shows that public voices can make a real difference in protecting nature.
However, while the Council made some changes, the current proposals still risk harming protected habitats and possibly setting a dangerous national precedent. While the original threat to 35 hectares of protected habitats has been taken off the table, up to 2.9 hectares of protected marine habitats and 3.6 hectares of protected coastal meadow remain at risk. We must continue to make our voices heard to save these vital areas and their wildlife for the benefit of current and future generations.
We now have a short window of opportunity to respond strongly to the final draft Local Plan, which closes on 3rd September. Together, we can convince the Council and the new Government to support a wilder future for Tipner West, ensuring the protection of nature sites both in Portsmouth and across the UK. This isn’t just a campaign for Portsmouth residents. If you also treasure a place of calm and wildness in the midst of your town or city, if you have admired the bleak beauty of coastal saltmarsh and mudflats, or if you have ever been lucky enough to witness a – it’s time to turn that connection into action: this campaign is for you. We’re not just standing up for wildlife at Tipner West, but for underappreciated habitats at risk across the UK.
Add your voice today to help speak up for nature. The Council needs to hear that their plans cross the line. Together, we can ensure a balanced, nature-positive future for our communities and champion sustainable development that works for both people and planet.
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Image of Tipner West above copyright Strong Island