APPENDIX 15
Letter from The National Trust for Places
of Historic Interest or Natural Beauty to Mr T Ilott, Sustainable
Development Consultation
OPPORTUNITIES FOR
CHANGE
Thank you for inviting the National Trust to
comment on the Government's revised UK strategy for sustainable
development. We very much welcome the Government's commitment
to sustainable development as described in this document and are
pleased to hear a new strategy is being formulated.
The Trust itself is already active in working
towards achieving sustainable development. An independent charity
founded in 1895, it has statutory duties and unique powers for
the acquisition, permanent protection and management of countryside
and historic buildings in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Since its inception, it has acquired responsibility for the protection
of a large and varied estate for the benefit of the nation. This
comprises some of the finest and most important landscapes, historic
buildings and gardens in the country, unspoilt coastline, farmland,
woodland and other natural and semi-natural habitats and archaeological
sites. The Trust has a responsibility to transfer this natural
and historic resource, in good order, across the generations.
"Opportunities for Change" identifies
sustainable development as ensuring a better quality of life for
everyone, now and for generations to come. The Trust welcomes
this definition, believing that if development is not to be at
the expense of the natural, human and financial resources that
underpin it, it has to be viewed in terms of the improvement of
well-being rather than material accumulation. Insofar as the Trust
promotes sustainability in the areas over which it has influence,
it therefore helps to provide and to maintain this underpinning.
As such, the Trust offers a qualitative contribution to the aim
of society as a whole to improve its well-being, and thus achieve
sustainable development.
The Trust, however, depends in turn on society—on
the general public and the Government alike—to support and
to become involved in its activities. This lends a rationale and
authority to what it does and gives it incentive to continue to
do so. In many ways therefore the Trust promotes a shared responsibility
for, and common ownership of, its work which is a prerequisite
of sustainable development. We would be very pleased to discuss
further ways in which the Trust could assist the Government in
this area, sharing experience and examples of good practice.
In the meantime, the Trust will be commenting
in depth on some of the detailed papers that are being produced
to cover more specific issues and looks forward to working with
the Government and others to promote this issue in the future.
Thank you once again for inviting the Trust
to contribute to this interesting debate.
David Pullen
Solicitor
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