Government planning blueprints ‘laughable’, claims senior Leeds councillor

Executive member for transport and planning, Coun Lisa Mulherin, said the new plans – in which developers could be given automatic planning permission – would stop local people deciding what gets built in their district.

The proposed reforms – currently at the early “white paper” stage – were announced by communities secretary Robert Jenrick last month, and could see new homes and hospitals granted “automatic” permission to be built.

In certain cases, local authorities would not be able to block developments that are in designated “growth” zones.

During a meeting on devolution plans for West Yorkshire this week, Coun Mulherin (Lab) described the plans as the “opposite of devolution”, claiming it was an example of the government taking more powers away from councils.

“We are finally being given new powers,” she said. “Nobody will say no to having more local say in local matters.

“However, when this government gives with one hand it takes away with the other. In its current white paper, the government claims it wants to reduce red tape to speed up the planning process.

“(This is) a claim built entirely on the myth that the planning process is being held up by local councils, and not by landowners and developers sitting on sites with planning permission but not starting work on them.

“It would be more accurate to say the government wants to cut local oversight and the democratic process in planning matters. Government proposes new zoning areas where growth areas suitable for development would automatically have outline permission.”

Coun Mulherin referred to claims Mr Jenrick was keen on using an algorithm to produce targets for every area in England, as reported in the Sunday Times last weekend.

Describing the idea “laughable”, she added: “Even after the shambolic mess his government made with their decision to use prejudicial algorithms to determine students’ exam results this summer.

“The government proposals sweep away ability to give proper scrutiny to planning applications, and open the market to speculative developers building what they want, where they want and how they want.

“The proposals in the government’s planning white paper are the opposite of devolution. This government seems intent on watering it down and handing it to developers. Call it what you like, but it means less say in decisions that affect local lives.

“I would urge the government to reconsider its national plans to remove local decision-making from planning matters and centralising control at a time when we are poised to accept powers going from Westminster to West Yorkshire, not the other way round.”

The Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government has been approached for a comment.