Daventry councillors slam ‘terrible’ government proposals to overhaul planning system

A white paper entitled ‘Planning for the Future’ was produced by the Government last month and put out to consultation with several new proposals that would effectively change the entire planning applications system.

Some of the larger proposals include splitting land into three categories – ‘growth’ areas suitable for substantial development; ‘renewal’ areas suitable for development; and areas that are ‘protected’.

One of the more controversial proposals would see areas identified as ‘growth’ areas for substantial development being automatically granted outline planning permission for the principle of development – effectively negating the need for a debate on whether the principle of a specific type of development should be allowed.

There are also plans to introduce a new set rate ‘community levy’ for developer contributions towards infrastructure, with this replacing the current section 106 agreements that are currently negotiated between councils and developers.

A motion from Liberal Democrat councillor Jonathan Harris, seconded by his colleague, Councillor Catherine Lomax, called on the district council to ‘respond fully to the white paper consultation outlining specifically the negative impact that these revisions will have on local involvement and engagement in planning matters’.

Councillor Jonathan Harris, who proposed the motion, said: “Not only will councils have decision taking power taken away, they will lose the ability to set their own planning policies for their own area.

“Some have called it a developer’s charter that could spell the end of affordable housing. While they might get Britain building, it could lead to the next generation of slum housing.”

His motion added: “The council is concerned that the proposals seek to reduce or remove the right of residents to have their say on applications in their communities; grant automatic rights for developers to build on land identified as ‘for growth’; and remove section 106 payments for infrastructure and their replacement with a national levy.”

The motion won support from all parties when voted on at the virtual full council meeting last Thursday evening (October 8).

One of the most outspoken critics from the Conservative benches was the chairman of the planning committee, Councillor Steve Osborne, who said: “I think the proposals are terrible. We used to deal with 90 per cent of applications and now we deal with less than 10 per cent.

“I used to joke at the planning committee that very soon the Government will allow applicants to purchase planning permission from the Post Office. It was meant to be funny, but I’m afraid it’s getting close to that. No doubt though that the Government will do what they want to do.”

Councillor Richard Auger, the leader of the authority, has been tasked with writing on behalf of the council to the Minister of State for Housing & Planning and to local MP Chris Heaton-Harris to ‘raise concerns’. A response to the Government will be discussed at tonight's strategy meeting (October 15).