MPs Attack Key Government Planning Reform

A presumption in favour of planning applications should be removed from controversial Government reforms, a highly critical MPs' report has said.

Proposals to overhaul existing policies on development bids appear to put more emphasis on economic growth than the environment or society, according to the Communities and Local Government Committee .

The MPs warned the current draft of the new rules risked the planning system being used to implement badly-thought out or unsustainable development.

The draft national planning policy framework (NPPF) reduces more than 1,000 pages of policy to just 52.

And the Government insists the shift to a focus on a "presumption in favour of sustainable development" is needed to boost growth.

It says the changes will give communities more say in their local area and protect the environment.

But major countryside groups such as the National Trust have raised fears they could lead to a return to urban sprawl and damaging development.

The report demands the default answer to planning proposals is "yes" - except where that would compromise sustainable development.

But the MPs said sustainable development was not defined adequately and that clarity had been lost in the pursuit of brevity.

Clive Betts , the committee's chairman, said: "The way the framework is drafted currently gives the impression that greater emphasis should be given in planning decisions to economic growth.

"This undermines the equally important environmental and social elements of the planning system.

"As currently drafted, the 'default yes' to development also carries the risk of the planning system being used to implement unsustainable development.

"As currently worded, the framework would introduce several ambiguities that are more likely to slow down the planning process."

Fiona Reynolds, director-general of the National Trust, said the committee's report provided "irresistible pressure" on ministers to improve the reforms.

Planning Minister Greg Clark said he had invited the committee to make specific suggestions on the draft framework and was grateful for "the practical and measured way they have approached the exercise".

Shadow local government minister Roberta Blackman-Woods said: "This is a strong condemnation of the Government's draft national planning policy framework by the select committee, and a vindication of all the campaigners who have fought so hard."