Planning law changes: MPs call for rethink in bid to preserve countryside

January 1st, 2012

FAKE NEWS for the Zionist agenda

Communities Secretary ‘tipping balance too much in favour of economic growth’

By
Steve Doughty

Last updated at 9:36 AM on 21st December 2011

Under fire: A draft planning policy by Communities Secretary Eric Pickles (above) has been accused of threatening the countryside

Controversial planning reforms should be watered down to preserve the countryside, a group of influential MPs said yesterday.

Members of the Communities and Local Government Committee insisted the scheme to tilt the planning system in favour of ‘sustainable’ development would undermine the environment.

Its criticisms of Communities Secretary Eric Pickles and his draft National Planning Policy Framework were seized on by campaign groups and charities who have spent months trying to overturn the proposals.

The National Trust declared there was now ‘irresistible pressure’ on ministers to change the reforms; the Campaign to Protect Rural England said there must be ‘substantial changes’; and a Labour shadow minister labelled the MPs’ verdict ‘a vindication of all the campaigners who have fought so hard’.

The reforms, an attempt to simplify 1,000 pages of planning regulations, were criticised for asking councils to observe a ‘presumption in favour of sustainable development’.

Campaign groups said this meant local objectors would no longer be able to halt or delay controversial building projects.

Labour MP Clive Betts, the committee’s chairman, said yesterday: ‘The way the framework is drafted gives the impression greater emphasis should be given in planning decisions to economic growth.

‘This undermines the equally important environmental and social elements of the planning system.’

Committee members said the presumption that all planning applications should be approved unless the adverse effects ‘significantly and demonstrably’ outweigh the benefits should be rewritten.

The system should also put the burden on developers to prove a scheme will not do significant harm, rather than on the local planning authority to prove otherwise.

MP Clive Betts

Dame Fiona Reynolds, director general of the National Trust

Critics: Communities and Local Government Committee chairman Clive Betts (left) and Dame Reynolds, director general of the National Trust (right), say more balance needs to be given to social and environmental considerations

Kate Houghton, of the CPRE, said: ‘The Government must now make substantial changes to its proposed planning policies if we are to get the efficient, locally oriented and environmentally sensitive system we believe ministers want.’

The director general of the National Trust, Dame Fiona Reynolds, said: ‘The committee has identified the clear changes that need to be made so it delivers a planning system that balances social and environmental needs with those of the economy.’

And Labour’s shadow local government spokesman, Roberta Blackman-Woods, insisted: ‘This is a strong condemnation of the framework by the select committee and a vindication of all the campaigners who have fought so hard.’

Last night, Planning Minister Greg Clark said: ‘We are determined the National Planning Policy Framework will put power into the hands of local people through a simpler, clearer system, which safeguards our natural and historic environment while allowing the jobs and homes to be created that our country needs.’

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Pickles cant even get our bins emptied weekly ! so what chance of changing planning laws.

– Rustyrod, WSM, 21/12/2011 21:21

They need to sort out the existing planning laws first . All our MP’s are in denial that the affordable housing planning system rules stop house building and flat convertions throughout the country. Planning fee’s of £200,000 to gain planning permission for up-to 10 flats then saying they are open and transparent and it is fair. The system could only give donations to affordable housing in good times, now it is driving up rents through lack of availability they should be incouraging flat convertions not trying to get money out of unviable projects sheer madness they all need to go to spec savers. Just look out of the window and see all the boarded up pubs paying rates on empty spaces and ask yourself why cant these places be developed look above at the £200,000 and you know why now.

– Lorne, Gloucester, 21/12/2011 21:01

We don’t need more houses . There are over a million houses lying empty. Most of these are well built and would need little to make them habitable Just look at the Channel 4 Great Property Scandal web page Property companies want to build on green field sites as it is cheaper for them and property renta companies like a long list of homeless as it keeps rent prices high.If the government really want to solve the problem they would encourage companies to start up in the regions with so many of these houses. however nearly all regions have far more empty houses than most people realise

– Poppy Clarke, Croydon UK, 21/12/2011 19:06

Look we need many many more houses, when I drive out of London I see mile after mile of greenery, if you are going to let more and more people into the country they as well the ones who are here now they cannot all live in London and other big citys.The reason house price so very high in the UK lack of houses.

– jack, london, 21/12/2011 17:07

The power should be with the people The Councils see new development as more Council Tax for them These days Councils are happy to cram as many houses and flats into a small plot of land and don’t worry that there is no garages so cars are parked all over the place The rules on the size of the road for entrance from a main road are not considered it is impossble on some garden sites to pass another vehicle so people coming off a main road have to wait on a dangerous road There are plenty of empty properties to use Why leave old peoples homes empty for 20 years and let them go derelict the same as many flats on top of shops in the High St Time to make use of what we have got and stop emty properties being left to rot

– Sue, Oxon, 21/12/2011 16:35

Another disgusting picture of Eric Piggles … . Does the DM want to put us of our food?

– DisenchantedBrit, Anywhere but hellhole island, 21/12/2011 13:48

“Planning Minister Greg Clark said: ‘We are determined the National Planning Policy Framework will put power into the hands of local people”========= Yeah, it will give local people the power to do what Eric Pickles says they should do.

– Polperro, Camborne, 21/12/2011 12:45

NO! NO! NO! We must preserve our countryside. We may well have houses to give to all the immigrants but what about when it comes to feeding them?. You cannot grow vegtables on building plots.

– Geoff Fuller, Devon, 21/12/2011 12:28

A Tory must have had a skyscraper built at the end of his garden for them to have a change of heart!
Who was it who used to say “Not for turning”?

– EURO for GB, EU USSR, 21/12/2011 12:17

There are many factors involved in planning decisions. It should be up to local councils, rather than central government, to decide how much weight should be given to all of the various factors. Central government is, in effect, saying that all other factors, apart from the ones which they deem to be important, should be ignored. It’s yet more central government interference in what should be local issues.

– Polperro, Camborne, 21/12/2011 12:16

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