Member

Why am I so concerned to address this issue? Quite simply, the problem can arise when developers, in a somewhat sneaky and underhand, albeit not illegal way, have taken advantage of the complexity and siloed nature of the planning system to not be open about their intention for a large infrastructure project. Anecdotally, I have heard of one situation where apparently individual landowners thought they were signing in isolation, unaware that others in the facility had been asked to do the same. When this came to light and the compounding of the land made it into a large infrastructure project, the public outcry was enormous, and apparently there was a backlash against these landowners. We should not forget that often the proposed installations will be in place for 60 years—often on agricultural land—and that, where companies are involved, we often have no idea which ones they are.