Planning rules overhaul could mean ‘living hell’

CONTROVERSIAL plans to grant automatic planning permission to certain developments could lead to a “living hell”, a Solihull councillor has claimed. Elected members fear a complete overhaul of the existing system could leave residents feeling helpless and damage democracy by stripping powers from local decision-makers. A government paper has set out proposals to divide up land into sites earmarked for “growth”, “renewal” and “protection”.

Critics claim that a more relaxed approach in the first two groups could open the floodgates and sideline local communities.

Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick has insisted slashing red tape will speed up a process which he described as slow and outdated, allowing more homes to be built.

But Cllr Max McLoughlin, a Shirley South councillor and the Green Party’s housing spokesman locally, voiced grave concern about the proposals.

“It’s ridiculous to claim that giving a green light to developers is anything to do with a ‘Green New Deal’,” he said.

“The changes that came in under Cameron’s government were a nightmare, but if these changes go through they’ll be a living hell.

“If this government cared about building the right kinds of homes, in the right places, they’d be giving more powers and funding to councils.

“This is making them impotent and letting developers hold all the cards. I’m sure most people see this for what it is, cronyism.”

Cllr Jim Ryan (Con, Bickenhill), a veteran of the planning committee, said he would be concerned if decisions were taken out of councillors’ hands as part of a dramatic shakeup.

He believed ministers were responding to concerns that some town halls were “stifling” the planning process, but said Solihull had a good track record of dealing with applications quickly.

And he warned that any moves that denied residents a chance to be heard risked damaging the public’s faith in the process.

“If you have a free for all without proper consultation you lose something that is important to democracy. I think there’s a danger of disenfranchising people from the process.

“It could affect voting. They won’t bother voting locally because their views are not going to be taken into account.”

Cllr Ryan has been a vocal critic of policies which limit local decisionmaking.

Last autumn he criticised the move to grant HS2 “extraordinary powers” – which he likened to something from the Medieval era – to push through planning applications. The sweeping changes were first announced over the weekend and outlined in greater detail in a document this week.

The reaction has been sharply divided, with some worried about the implications but others welcoming the opportunity to review the system.

Bernadette Hillman, a partner in the planning team at law firm Sharpe Pritchard, said “the devil would be in the detail”.

“Much of what the government proposes is possible under the current system and we should be building on the existing regime.

“Permission in principle already exists and there really is no need for major reform: just some technical adjustments and properly resourced local planning departments.”