Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Lib Dems threaten rebellion over rural planning reforms

Andy McSmith
Sunday 25 March 2012 17:09 EDT
Comments

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

David Cameron risks opening a crack in the coalition this week when new planning rules are published which opponents fear will give developers the freedom to build all over the countryside.

Officials at the Department of Communities and Local Government have been rewriting the proposed National Planning Policy Framework after the first draft set off a furious reaction from Liberal Democrat MPs with rural seats.

The new guidance, which will be much shorter than the old, is expected to be published tomorrow, and will ease planning restrictions so that developers can contribute to reviving the economy and solving the housing shortage. But opponents fear they could be allowed to ruin the rural environment.

Martin Horwood, Lib Dem MP for Cheltenham, said: "I'm quite concerned about the revised draft. The central problem is the obsession with sacrificing everything on the altar of economic development. Germany has the strongest economic performance in Europe and one of the strictest planning frameworks."

Annette Brooke, Lib Dem MP for Mid Dorset, said: "It's incredibly important to get the right balance between the social, economic and environmental effects. The first draft didn't strike the right balance. If I see the right words around that this time, I'll breath a sigh of relief."

It was reported yesterday the plans will include a new community of 100,000 homes on green belt land around Coventry and Wolverhampton, near the route of the HS2 railway. The Sunday Telegraph also reported London was to have a new "second Docklands" on the west side of the capital.

The proposed changes have been opposed by environmental groups, including the Council to Protect Rural England, as being too accommodating to developers. The CPRE described the new planning framework as the most important of its kind for 30 years.

But a spokesman added: "Some parts of the Government, particularly the Treasury and Department for Business, wanted to change the role of planning to make it a tool for facilitating economic growth above all else."

Changes to create 500,000 jobs

Half a million jobs could be created by planning reforms allied with state support of the mortgage market, according to house builders anxiously awaiting news of the Government's plans to liberalise regulation of housing development.

The Home Builders Federation says that the Government's NewBuy mortgage indemnity scheme could be a "game-changer" if the Coalition follows through on its pledge to make the planning process favour new development – securing a boom in jobs as well as providing urgently needed new homes. Fewer than 100,000 began to be built in Britain last year, despite official figures indicating an annual rate of 250,000 is needed in England alone to keep up with demand and deliver the 2 million more houses and flats needed by 2020.

The Government has predicted that the reforms would create 50,000 new jobs, but Steve Turner of the Home Builders Federation said that was a "huge underestimation". "If we get up to the number of homes required by this country... then you're creating in order of [500,000] jobs," he said.

Rob Hastings

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in