Energy, Participation and Planning: The Case of Electricity Generation in Great Britain

Abstract

This paper shows how issues and conflicts over power station proposals in the United Kingdom have changed and developed during the past three decades, then looks to the future to consider whether planning and democratic procedures will be able to cope with anticipated development pressures. It is argued that current planning `delays' result from a long established trend towards greater concern for environmental quality, superimposed on the emergence of `generic' issues since the mid-1970's. There is consensus that the present situation is unsatisfactory, but reforms proposed by development interests and environmental groups (broadly defined) reflect fundamentally different views about policy and participation. Several scenarios are explored in the final section and it is concluded that in spite of a `remission' from development pressures due largely to the current recession, there is little room for complacency about conflicts over power station developments in the future.