Conservative councillors join revolt against planning bill

BORIS JOHNSON is facing an open revolt by Conservative councillors over the Government’s planning reforms, with local authorities lining up to formally condemn the plans.

Tory councillors in Richmond, west London, have backed a motion warning the changes would “curtail residents’ rights to influence development”.

The Conservative leadership of Medway council in Kent is planning a similar move on Thursday, and other Tory councillors across the country have said that they will table similar motions.

Labour has urged councillors to push the Prime Minister and Robert Jenrick, the Housing Secretary, to overhaul reforms that MPs call “electorally toxic”.

The shadow local government secretary, Steve Reed, said: “I want to show the Government, and Robert Jenrick in particular, the strength of feeling against what he’s proposing.”

The Planning Bill, due in the autumn, would see the country split into zones marked for protection or growth. In “development” areas, critics say homeowners will find it harder to object to newbuilds. Mr Reed wrote to councillors urging them to adopt a Labour motion passed by the Commons.

It called on the Government “to protect the right of communities to object to individual planning applications”.

Almost 90 councillors, including 20 Conservatives, support Mr Reed, and last week Richmond council passed the motion with support from Tory councillors. In Medway, the Conservative planning spokeswoman has tabled a version of the motion to be voted on at the council’s meeting on Thursday.

Mr Reed said: “Since Robert Jenrick won’t listen to us in the Commons, I’m hoping he will listen to the opinion across local government, across parties.” The Ministry of Housing said: “These reforms will ensure more engagement and local democracy, not less. The plan-making process will be simpler, faster and more accessible – with plans produced in 30 months, not seven years.”