Councillors Decry New Planning Rules as Undemocratic

United in disbelief, West Berkshire Council last night reluctantly voted through new planning rules they called 'assault of democracy'.

The Government has pushed major reforms to speed up housebuilding and streamline council decision-making. The new rules take effect around October 31.

Councillors say the changes cut local input as power shifts from committee members to planning officers. Only larger housing schemes and some listed building consents will go before councillors; officers will decide the rest.

"They [the Government] are obsessed with delays being blamed on bats and newts slowing down applications," said David Marsh (Green, Wash Common).

"It is giving more power to developers."

"It is not the fault of a few people protesting about a development. It is developers who land bank, waiting for the value of the land to go up."

"The Government's refusal to equip councils to have enough planning officers is to blame for delays."

"The credibility of the system will be at risk."

The chamber debated for more than an hour and were forced to agree, despite a last-ditch effort by independent Wash Common councillor Adrian Abbs to get procedural amendments through.

"The entire council has a similar view about this appalling act by the Government," said Owen Jeffery (Lib Dem, Colthrop and Cookham).

"The Government is instructing us. We have no meaningful choice. It is an unnecessary disgrace."

The new National Scheme of Delegation removes the ability of ward, parish and town councils to 'call in' minor or local applications for committee review, and public objections alone will no longer force a committee vote.

"This is a case of doing to not doing with," said Richa Somner (Con, Calcot).

"This is at the absolute displeasure of this authority. It's so poor it's unbelievable."

The County Councils Network warns top-down housing targets and reintroduced five-year land supplies could expose rural and greenfield areas to speculative building without matching local infrastructure.

Niki Hinman, Local Democracy Reporter