18 April 2008
The Department for Communities and Local Government has dismissed councils' claims that planning reforms will sideline local accountability.
The Local Government Association this week criticised the Planning Bill, which it said would marginalise local voices.
The Bill allows for major projects deemed of national importance to bypass the local planning process and be approved by a new national planning commission.
While the LGA has acquiesced to this for certain projects such as airports and nuclear power stations, it is concerned that the government's definition of national importance is far too loose.
An LGA spokesman told Public Finance that a planning 'creep' was already emerging, with the government putting forward schemes such as trunk roads for national approval.
'Where is the line drawn between something that is of national importance and something that isn't? Where does it stop?' he said.
But the DCLG disputed the LGA's claims, saying they were 'wide of the mark'. 'The Bill includes the first-ever statutory duty on developers to consult local communities and councils, and local consultation will be locked into every stage of the process.'
The All-Party Urban Development Group of MPs this week launched a parliamentary inquiry into how to make commercial buildings more environmentally friendly.
While the government has a timetable to introduce zero-carbon homes by 2016, there are concerns that not enough is being done to 'green' commercial buildings.
PFapr2008
