Planning reforms will ‘erode local democracy’, says council report

Government planning reforms will give local authorities less control over planning applications, according to a Harrogate Borough Council report.

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government opened a consultation in August on sweeping changes to “streamline and modernise” the English planning system.

As part of its response to the consultation, HBC planning officers Tracey Rathmell and Natasha Durham have produced a report, which will be discussed by councillors next week.

The report says the reforms could have “significant implications” for the district and disagrees with the government’s central premise that the current system has led to not enough homes being built. It says:

“The proposals will lead to an increasing centralisation of the planning system and erosion of local democracy to the detriment of bottom up, locally led place shaping.”

“Whilst the aims of the paper are laudable on the whole, and some elements are welcomed (such as increased use of technology and focus on design), some proposals are of great concern.”

The white paper suggests local authorities could develop local plans by zoning land into three categories: “growth”, “renewal” or “protection”.

Other suggestions include digitalising the planning system, allowing more permitted development applications, replacing section 106 payments with a new system for developers and giving government the final say on how many homes should be built in an area.

In the foreword to the white paper, Prime Minister Boris Johnson was critical of the current planning system.

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He wrote:

“Thanks to our planning system, we have nowhere near enough homes in the right places. People cannot afford to move to where their talents can be matched with opportunity. Businesses cannot afford to grow and create jobs. The whole thing is beginning to crumble and the time has come to do what too many have for too long lacked the courage to do – tear it down and start again.”