Let residents vote on what is built on their street, MPS say

Tories suggest letting locals choose developments will quell backbench rebellion over Jenrick’s Planning Bill

GIVING local residents a vote on building works on their street would resolve the gridlock between the Housing Secretary and Conservative backbenchers over the Planning Bill, MPS have said.

The Government has been forced to water down its Bill, which contains “electorally toxic” plans to force councils to build more homes or face sanctions while making it harder for residents to object to new developments.

Robert Jenrick, the Housing Secretary, hoped the plans would boost construction to 300,000 new homes a year – but MPS in Tory strongholds in the South of England say the party will lose seats to the Liberal Democrats if they go through.

If there are no changes, as many as 100 Tory MPS are expected to vote against the Government.

MPS will today lay a Presentation Bill in the Commons encouraging Mr Jenrick to incorporate radical proposals that would give communities a vote on the housing styles in their areas and the density of new homes.

Allowing locals to decide whether developments could take place and what it looks like would convert Nimbys (who oppose house building near their homes) into pro-development residents and reduce the political heat from the debate, they argue.

John Penrose, a Tory MP, said: “It will mean we get the right buildings in the right places, rather than having ugly or ‘anywhere-ville’ identikit houses and offices plonked down in the teeth of local opposition.

“And it will take power away from deep-pocketed developers with smart lawyers, so they can’t slow everything down to a crawl to keep prices so high that local families can’t afford them either.”

The plans were drawn up with the help of the think tanks Policy Exchange and Create Streets.

They are supported by the CPRE – a countryside charity which has been critical of the planning reforms and attempts to build significantly more houses.

Tony Burton, chairman of CPRE London, said: “Experience shows that quality planning decisions depend on quality community engagement and people having a direct say in the future of their streets and open spaces.”

Other MPS who back today’s Presentation Bill include Simon Clarke, David Simmonds, Sir Bernard Jenkin, Sir John Hayes, Kevin Hollinrake and Bob Blackman.

The Planning Bill climbdown, which has not yet been officially confirmed by ministers, came after concerns the house building plans would lead to a collapse in support for the Conservatives in stronghold seats.

The so-called Blue Wall of Tory constituencies is at risk of losing votes to the Liberal Democrats.

Ed Davey, the Lib Dem leader, has already announced his party will be targeting 20 of the seats at the next election.

It follows the fall of Chesham and Amersham, a former Tory stronghold, to his party at a by-election earlier this year. Mr Jenrick’s Planning Bill was cited by campaigners on the ground as a reason many Conservatives were defecting.