‘Developers’ charter’ big loss to democracy

REBECCA Bartleet of Devon CPRE (13 May) was correct in suggesting the proposed planning bill will create over-development for the sole benefit of the big housing developers.

The proposals also represent a massive loss to local democracy.

The present planning legislation has been in existence since 1948, so why does Boris Johnson say he wants to ‘tear it down and start again’?

In order to make life easier for developers, there will be no public consultation of detailed design at planning permission stage: consultation will only take place at local plan stage.

The Royal Institute of British Architects described the proposals in the White Paper as ‘shameful’.

The Town and Country Planning Association described them as ‘disruptive’, given that 90% of present planning applications are approved, and that there are about a million existing unbuilt permissions.

The proposals have been described as a ‘developers’ charter’.

It must be remembered that the bill is being brought forward by Tory MP Robert Jenrick, who was forced to rescind a planning permission which he had unlawfully granted to a developer so that the developer could benefit to the tune of £45m.

The developer is, of course, a donor to the Tory party.

Is it too cynical to suggest that the £11 million given to the Conservative Party by developers since Boris Johnson became Prime Minister has influenced these proposals?

Mike Baldwin Thorverton, Devon