Spelman defends planning law reform

In her keynote speech to the Conservative Party Conference she said the economy had become “unbalanced” in favour of urban areas but green growth was now vital.

Defending the controversial proposals to change the planning system, she told the gathering in Manchester the Government would maintain protection for the green belt, Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty and national parks.

The draft national planning policy framework slims down 1000 pages of guidance to just 52, with a presumption in favour of sustainable development.

Mrs Spelman said: “For far too long the economy of this country has been unbalanced. Not just ‘north-south’, but ‘rural-urban’.

“It’s one of the factors that’s brought us to where we are today and we need to fix it.

“That’s why we’re investing £530m in rural broadband.

“We’re refocusing grants and funding streams so that they actively promote new kinds of rural enterprise.

“That means using rural grants to generate new business start-ups, new tourism opportunities, new markets for local produce and we want to help existing businesses become more competitive, more innovative, and more prosperous.”

In her speech, Mrs Spelman also announced plans to tackle tree diseases which threatened UK landscapes and forestry..