Paul Miner, Head of Policy and Planning at countryside charity CPRE, writes local government is under attack following an amendment to the Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill.
Local democracy is back in the government’s crosshairs.
Yesterday, the House of Commons passed an amendment to key legislation that gives the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities arbitrary powers to override development plans that were democratically approved by local communities.
Tuesday's developments also reflect a worrying trend.
Local democracy is being eroded and the voices of local communities are being sidelined.
The new amendment to the Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill (LURB) will allow government to implement National Development Management Policies (NDMPs) without clear assurances as to how it will consult local people, and no need to consult at all where policies would be 'urgent and expedient’.
We believe that sound evidence and proper scrutiny are essential for good planning and outcomes that serve people, nature and the countryside.
Despite opposition from Labour, the amendment passed alongside another that completely removes a previous commitment to ensure all planning decisions take into account the UK’s net-zero obligations.
This is a woefully regressive step in the face of the climate emergency.
If passed in legislation, NDMPs would take primacy over Local Plans that are subject to extensive public consultation.
The latter cover issues including the Green Belt, provision of new housing and safeguarding important natural habitats.
The threat posed by NDMPs is not new.
This outrageous and underhanded power-grab resets any progress made to safeguard local democracy in planning decisions. It could give government free rein to fast-track developments that damage the environment or amend local social housing targets
In September, CPRE successfully campaigned with partners across the environment and housing sector, along with thousands of our supporters for an amendment to the LURB that would require public and parliamentary scrutiny of all new NDMPs.
However, last Friday the government ignored the views widely held amongst parliamentarians and swiftly tabled the last-minute amendment that effectively reverts the bill back to its original state.
It could give government free rein to fast-track developments that damage the environment or amend local social housing targets – all while avoiding public or parliamentary scrutiny.
CPRE accepts that NDMPs have a role to play but we strongly oppose the idea that government can pick and choose when local people should be allowed to scrutinise and challenge them.
Government ministers should not have more say than locally elected councillors over what happens on someone’s street.
Paul Miner
Head of Policy and Planning
CPRE
