Pickles signals U-turn on planning

The Government has signalled a partial climb-down over its plans for a construction “free-for-all” which would allow people to build large home extensions without the need for planning permission.
The government faces a revolt over planning lawsThe government faces a revolt over planning laws
The government faces a revolt over planning laws

Communities Secretary Eric Pickles promised to bring forward “revised proposals” in the Lords next week after surviving a significant backbench rebellion over the controversial step.

Mr Pickles faced criticism from all sides of the House yesterday as he rejected an amendment which would have allowed worried councils to opt out of the proposed three-year relaxation of “permitted development” rules contained within the Growth and Infrastructure Bill.

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Instead, he said, a “sensible compromise” would be sought over the next few days.

“I can announce today that in the spirit of consensus, we will introduce a revised approach when the Bill returns to the Lords,” Mr Pickles said.

“Given the discussions I have had with colleagues who have concerns, I believe the problem is eminently bridgeable.”

Mr Pickles said offering councils an opt-out represented a “sledgehammer” approach to a policy which he insisted would empower people to improve their homes while boosting the construction industry.

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But Shadow Communities Secretary Hilary Benn, the MP for Leeds Central, warned the “centrist” proposal was actually designed to “take away the rights of neighbours to object”.

“That is why there is so much concern,” Mr Benn said. “I don’t think that the back gardens of England should be made the victims of the failure of the Government’s economic policy.”

The Labour MP said the current planning system for extensions is performing well, with 90 per cent of extensions being approved.

“That shows the planning system is working to allow these extensions,” Mr Benn said. “But what it also shows is that the planning system works to weed out the ten per cent of applications that are not acceptable.

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“The [Government] wants those ten per cent to go ahead, come what may.”

Sheffield South East MP Clive Betts, who chairs the Commons local government committee, said the impact on people’s neighbourhoods would be significant.

“We should be concerned not only about the ten per cent that are turned down, but those that are never submitted for planning permission because they are so awful that people know they would be turned down,” he said.

But it was on the Conservative Party’s own benches where Mr Pickles faced the greatest opposition, despite his promise of an unspecified “compromise” deal.

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The former Welsh Secretary, Cheryl Gillan, told him: “This has caused a great deal of grief to many of our district councils across the country.

“I am afraid we are not going to believe what you say at that despatch box until we see it in black and white.”

Senior backbencher Anne McIntosh, the MP for Thirsk and Malton and the chairwoman of the Commons environment committee, said she was “very concerned about the flood implications of tarmacking over our drives and building extra conservatories”.

In the vote that followed the Government’s majority was cut to just 27. Among the 24 rebel MPs were Colne Valley Tory Jason McCartney and West Yorkshire Liberal Democrats Greg Mulholland and David Ward.

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Speaking after the vote, Mr Mulholland said: “I’m just not convinced this measure will do anything to boost the economy, and it has the potential for dangerous consequences – developments that cause friction between neighbours, and unacceptable damage to our green spaces.”