The Hingham, Mass.-based consultancy said its 2007 Saint Index survey gauges current attitudes toward real estate development.

The group said their research found thirty-eight percent of American adults support a local power plant project, compared to just 23 percent in 2006 — a 15 percent rise.

Survey: Americans Warming to Power Plants

The 2007 Saint Index survey on attitudes toward real estate development found that 38% of American adults support a local power plant project, compared to just 23% in 2006. Where power plants and quarries were the second most-opposed land uses a year ago, even Wal-Mart, shopping malls and casinos drew more opposition as local development projects this year, the survey found. Landfills remained the most reviled local land use by Americans, matched by casinos this year.

Many Prefer a Power Plant Neighbor to a Wal-Mart, Says Survey

That is among the findings in an August telephone survey by the Center for Economic and Civic Opinion at the University of Massachusetts.

The study was commissioned by the Saint Consulting Group, a Hingham, Mass., firm that advises developers on garnering community support for projects. The firm also helps developers scuttle competitors’ projects by assisting community opposition groups, according to Patrick Fox, Saint’s president.

Saint Consulting is listed 3,152 on the list, with revenue of $25 million for calendar 2006, a growth rate of 25 percent from 2003.

The Saint Index comes from a public opinion survey of 1,223 Canadians by the Saint Consulting Group, a new firm in town with 25 years of experience in the U.K. and U.S. It specializes in winning zoning and land use battles for development proponents.

In the past two years, at least seven states have considered laws that sought to remove authority from local communities when it comes to approving development of big boxes such as Wal-Mart, Home Depot or Costco, and put the authorization at the state level.

Big-Box Crux

NIMBYism (Not in My Back Yard) has taken off, and public opposition to large-scale development is rampant across the United States, Canada and Great Britain. A recent survey shows remarkably similar opposition to the development of large-scale projects, distrust in local politicians, and fears that the planning process is unfair. According to the survey, conducted by The Saint Consulting Group, the most significant overall finding was that respondents in each country are opposed to further development in their communities.

Survey: Public Distrust of Development in U.S., Great Britain and Canada is Rampant

What a surprise!

Developers in Canada are not trusted and that same distrust is found in the U.S. and the U.K., according to a survey conducted by Saint Consulting Group, which has offices in all three countries.

But the while the survey found remarkable similarities, such as opposition to large-scale developments, distrust in local politicians and fears the planning process is unfair, there were also some differences in thinking.

Developers Face Lack Of Trust From Communities

The survey by the Saint Consulting Group, a leading land use political consultancy, found that 83 percent of people in Britain, 75 percent in Canada and 73 percent in the United States opposed new developments on their doorsteps.

Public Distrusts Developers Either Side of Atlantic

http://uk.reuters.com/article/topNews/idUKL0241096620070604