Planners have been told to start approving developments on the basis of the Coalition’s controversial new planning guidelines, despite ministers offering to reword the legislation before it comes into force.
Official inspectors, who have the power to approve local developments, were given the fresh guidance by the Planning Inspectorate last week. It told them to start abiding by the new draft planning framework, which campaigners fear could lead to unchecked development in rural areas, because it represents the Government’s “direction of travel”.
The issuing of the guidance comes despite the Government insisting that changes could still be made to the draft framework, which is not due to come into force for several months. At the weekend, ministers offered to reword the legislation, which states that there should be a “presumption in favour of sustainable development”.
A consultation on the draft framework is not due to end until the middle of next month, with a decision by ministers expected at the end of the year. Last night the National Trust criticised the “flawed” way in which the guidance was being implemented. The advice from the planning inspectorate was “surprising”, it said.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/countryside/8745764/New-planning-laws-already-in-force.html