Shapps outlines right to build plans
The coalition Government today announced plans to allow communities in rural areas to build homes, shops and other facilities without requiring planning permission.
The new rules, set to be included in the forthcoming Decentralisation and Localism Bill, would allow development to go ahead without a planning application if there was "overwhelming" support through a referendum, the Department for Communities and Local Government said.
Housing minister Grant Shapps said: "Far from the Nimbyism that often hits the headlines, up and down the country there are entire communities willing and eager to give the go-ahead for new developments in their area.
"I want to give communities the power to preserve their villages, which are currently struggling to survive because of a shortage of affordable homes."
Any profit made from selling or renting homes would be ploughed back into communities, Shapps said.
But he also said that the "Community Right to Build" would not apply just to housebuilding, and listed sheltered housing, shops, community halls and sports facilities as other types of development which would be allowed to opt out of the planning system.
The proposals were given the thumbs-down by Fiona Howie, head of planning at lobby group the Campaign to Protect Rural England.
She said: "We are pleased that the Government is considering how to protect and enhance rural village life and delivering affordable housing in rural areas will be a critical part of this. However, bypassing the planning process is not the way to deliver it and any proposals should include proper planning scrutiny."
She said that the level and location of development should be informed by a proper assessment of local housing need and an understanding of whether the local environment can accommodate more development.
Former housing minister John Healey said: "In areas where there is a housing need and a strong case for development then it is a sound idea to have a system where planners in a town hall some distance away cannot block it.
"However, I think the declared approach of giving a small group a veto could lead to internal village strife and more pain than the gain we are promised."
He said that it would be better to allow parish councils to make decisions as they already had status, and had more knowledge about housing need.
An RTPI spokesman said: "Proper planning scrutiny has served us well, whereas this proposal appears to disempower local authorities by removing their right to determine development proposals and may mean that new housing built as a result may conflict with existing wider community priorities. [New housing] will only have to meet nationally proscribed minimum standards, even if the local authority wishes to see higher design standards in its own area".
The Government has published a new online leaflet today, offering information and advice to communities interested in setting up "right to build" organisations.
www.regen.net 23/07/2010
