Shadow Communities Secretary, , will today invite councils to join Labour in forcing
a U-turn on the Conservative Government’s planning reforms,
dubbed a “Developers’ Charter”.
In a keynote speech to the Local Government Association
Conference, Reed will ask all councils, including
Conservative-run local authorities, to signal their opposition to
the reforms in formal council motions.
Labour is calling for a united front to defeat the Conservatives’
planned Developers’ Charter, which would prevent local residents
from objecting to developers’ plans to build slums, eyesores, or
any other form of inappropriate new buildings on their streets,
in their communities or on treasured public spaces.
Reed will formally launch Labour’s campaign to protect
communities’ ability to shape development in their area while
increasing the pace of home construction across the country ahead
of legislation being introduced to parliament later this year.
Labour also pledges to use parliament in the coming weeks to
ensure communities have a say over development in their area and
reduce the length of planning permission to stop irresponsible
developers “land-banking” instead of building.
It follows the House of Commons passing a motion with the support
of all parties to protect communities’ ability to object to
individual planning applications, with a host of Conservative MPs
previously signalling opposition to the “Developers’ Charter”.
The reforms were reportedly a significant cause of the
Conservatives’ recent defeat in the Chesham and Amersham
by-election.
Reed will tell the LGA Conference:
“The Conservatives' plans are a stark example of their impulse to
deprive communities of power rather than empower them.
“We know our concerns are shared by councillors of all political
parties, so we're asking councils to make their voices heard.
“If we work together, we can protect the rights of residents to
have a say over their own streets and their own local green
spaces. All residents are asking for is a voice, not a veto."
On Labour’s plans to speed up housebuilding, Reed will
say:
“There’s no doubt we need to build more housing, particularly
good quality homes that people can afford to rent or buy.
“But the problem isn’t the planning system - if there’s a problem
to be fixed, its incentivising developers to go ahead and
develop, rather than sitting on rising land values with a view to
selling it on in the future.
“That’s why Labour will bring forward a ‘use it or lose it’ Bill
to the House of Commons next week, and challenge the Government
to back it.”
Ends
Notes to editors:
· Text of Steve Reed MP’s Letter to Councils invited them to
adopt a motion to protect local voices in planning applications
Dear Councillor
Re: Planning reforms
The Government has published highly controversial proposals to
reform the planning system. One aspect that has raised particular
concern is the proposal to remove local residents’ right to
object to individual planning applications in their own
neighbourhood if the area is zoned for growth or renewal.
Last week, the House of Commons called on the Government to
protect residents’ rights to retain a voice over planning
applications, recognizing that the best way to get necessary new
homes built is to support communities, councils and developers to
work in partnership.
I attach a copy of the motion passed by the House of Commons with
support from MPs of all political parties. I urge you to ask your
council to pass the same motion so we can show widespread support
for the principle of protecting residents’ right to a say over
individual planning applications in their own area. Many local
people have already expressed anger that this long-established
democratic right is under threat.
Please let me know if you intend to ask your council to support
the motion. I would also welcome other views you may have on the
proposed planning reforms and your ideas for how we can best
protect the voice of local people and their elected councillors
over planning decisions.
Yours sincerely,
Shadow Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government
· Labour Party Motion on the Opposition Day Debate on local
involvement in planning decisions, House of Commons 21 June 2021
Opposition day motion approved ayes 231 noes 0
Steve Reed
Local involvement in planning decisions
That this House believes planning works best when developers
and the local community work together to shape local areas and
deliver necessary new homes; and therefore calls on the
Government to protect the right of communities to object to
individual planning applications.
· The reforms were a significant cause of the Conservatives’
recent defeat in the Chesham and Amersham by-election.
Source:Conservative MPs put pressure on
government to scrap planning reforms | UK news | The Guardian
