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Attack on planning reforms driven by 'left wingers' government claims

The Planning Minister Bob Neill has stated that the high profile campaign opposing the proposed changes to the planning system have been orchestrated by left-wing opposition influencing some of the pressure groups and using this as an opportunity to attack the government. 

The Minister in response to being questioned by the Daily Telegraph about the opposition to the reforms stated “This is a carefully choreographed smear campaign by left-wingers based within the national headquarters of pressure groups. This is more about a small number of interest groups trying to justify their own existence, going out of their way by picking a fight with Government."

National organisations such as the National Trust have strongly condemned the proposed reforms warning that they "could lead to unchecked and damaging development in the undesignated countryside on a scale not seen since the 1930s". 

The reforms are aimed to simplify the planning system and to reduce the current national planning policy from 1,300 pages to just 52. Councils will also be told that there should be a “presumption of development”. 

The Labour Party has argued that the reforms should come under greater scrutiny and debate in Parliament and the Shadow Local Government Minister Barbara Keeley has warned that the proposals “might lead to inappropriate development and loss of greenbelt or greenfield land”.  

The government sees the planning changes as vitally important as part of their overall strategy for increasing growth and development in the economy. They are also dealing with a significant lack of affordable housing in the countryside. The Economic Secretary to the Treasury, Justine Greening said “These changes will keep important environmental safeguards firmly in place while helping businesses to create jobs and invest in local communities for the long term.” 

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