Government's new planning overhaul will 'remove localism' say concerned Kettering councillors

An overhaul of the country’s planning system, which could see some large housing developments automatically granted and obligations on developers reduced, has been slammed as ‘removing localism’ by concerned Kettering councillors.

The Conservative government proposed last month a root and branch shake up of the way land is developed and housing built with the publication of its white paper – Planning for the Future.

Among the number of changes it would change the role of local plans, identify land sites as growth areas, renewal areas or protected areas, reduce developer planning obligations instead bringing in national rates and a flexible infrastructure levy as well as imposing time limits and sanctions on local authorities that do not meet deadlines.

There would also be local design codes and each local authority would have to have a chief officer who ensures the code is stuck to. There will also be ambitious targets to make homes more energy efficient. If a development was put forward on land marked out for growth then a scheme could be automatically granted, despite local protests.

The move is being done in a bid to speed up the planning system and cut down on bureaucracy, however critics have said the plan could become a blueprint for ‘slums of the future’ with its nod to densification to ensure housing targets are met.

Local authorities across the country are being asked for their views on the new plan and last night Kettering councillors on the authority’s planning policy committee made clear their views.

Independent Jim Hakewill said the plans would be ‘very dramatic for our future’.

He said: “This white paper is going to affect every single soul for generations to come. This is removing the opportunity for towns and parish and people like ourselves to comment. Government wants to pull the strings on planning, get the homes built and be damned what local people feel about it. If we take our eye off the ball we won’t need a football playing strategy because there will be houses everywhere.”

The councillor called for a virtual meeting between all areas of the borough to make a coordinated response to the white paper.

Resident Jon Padwick said it looked like the overhaul was being rushed through at a vulnerable time.

He said: “Is there seriously a suggestion that local people should not be able to object to planning applications?

I recognise Kettering’s need for affordable housing but this top down approach is in danger of Whitehall and developers being in control rather than local councils.”

Member of Save Weekly Wood Dez Dell was also concerned about the plans, saying it would take planning matters out of local authority control, but welcomed the suggestion of more digitised planning processes.

Cllr Ash Davies said he was concerned the proposal would lead to ‘the removal of localism’ and Cllr Jan O’Hara said modern housing needed more space and developers needed to build homes that reflected current home-working practices rather than building victorian style properties.

She said: “We are going backwards in planning and these proposals are allowing that to happen. Not having a say in our own area is frightening.”

She said the properties being put forward currently by developers ‘are not what we want for the future’.

Cllr Mike Tebbutt said the proposal was like dynamite and could see the number of housing approvals in North Northants increase from 1,800 to 3,000 a year which he said could cause a horrendous problem.

The committee decided that the planning officers would prepare a draft response to the white paper, that would then come back to the planning policy committee for consideration. Chair Mike Tebbutt also asked that the recommendation was made public so parish councillors and borough councillors could comment on the response.

The white paper consultation deadline is October 29.