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| Labour would give communities more say over planning, says Hilary Benn | Labour would give communities more say over planning, says Hilary Benn |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Labour would give communities a greater say over developments in their area, Hilary Benn has said. | Labour would give communities a greater say over developments in their area, Hilary Benn has said. |
| The shadow communities and local government secretary said the planning system had to have the support of the people for it to work. | The shadow communities and local government secretary said the planning system had to have the support of the people for it to work. |
| He blamed George Osborne's Treasury for targeting planning as an area to remove restrictions in an attempt to boost the "flatlining" economy. | He blamed George Osborne's Treasury for targeting planning as an area to remove restrictions in an attempt to boost the "flatlining" economy. |
| Although Labour has stressed the need to build more homes, Benn said it should be for local communities rather than Whitehall to specify where they go. | Although Labour has stressed the need to build more homes, Benn said it should be for local communities rather than Whitehall to specify where they go. |
| The intervention follows the controversy over the introduction of the government's national planning policy framework, with its presumption in favour of approving "sustainable developments". | The intervention follows the controversy over the introduction of the government's national planning policy framework, with its presumption in favour of approving "sustainable developments". |
| In an article for the Daily Telegraph, Benn said: "The truth is that the government's economic policy has failed. Our economy is flatlining and they have been thrashing about trying to find ways to boost economic growth. | |
| "There is a Treasury view that planning is the problem and that if you get rid of the restrictions then the economy will recover. They're wrong." | "There is a Treasury view that planning is the problem and that if you get rid of the restrictions then the economy will recover. They're wrong." |
| The UK was building less than half the homes it needed to meet demand and as a result "house prices are nine times the average wage and rents in the private rented sector are soaring". | The UK was building less than half the homes it needed to meet demand and as a result "house prices are nine times the average wage and rents in the private rented sector are soaring". |
| Benn said he agreed with the planning minister, Nick Boles, that "we can't carry on moaning about the difficulty our children are facing in finding somewhere to live while opposing all planning applications for new housing". | |
| But Benn said: "Local communities should decide where they want new homes and developments to go and then give their consent in the form of planning permission. | But Benn said: "Local communities should decide where they want new homes and developments to go and then give their consent in the form of planning permission. |
| "It's the difference between having a say and having it done to you. We know that planning can be very contentious precisely because it is about the places we live in and care about, so the system has to have the support of the public to make it work." | "It's the difference between having a say and having it done to you. We know that planning can be very contentious precisely because it is about the places we live in and care about, so the system has to have the support of the public to make it work." |
| Benn said his view was that "communities can make these decisions for themselves" provided developments were handled in the correct way. | Benn said his view was that "communities can make these decisions for themselves" provided developments were handled in the correct way. |
| "I don't think that if given that power, communities will ignore the needs of young people and the nation as a whole," he said. | "I don't think that if given that power, communities will ignore the needs of young people and the nation as a whole," he said. |
| "In fact, if they can shape what happens – deciding where the homes will go, being certain that the extra infrastructure (schools, shops, and GP surgeries) will be there, feeling comfortable with the design and knowing that their children and people on the local waiting list will be at the head of the queue – then I am confident that communities will take the right decisions about what is best for their needs. | "In fact, if they can shape what happens – deciding where the homes will go, being certain that the extra infrastructure (schools, shops, and GP surgeries) will be there, feeling comfortable with the design and knowing that their children and people on the local waiting list will be at the head of the queue – then I am confident that communities will take the right decisions about what is best for their needs. |
| "However, this approach is a leap of faith for Whitehall, which for far too long has maintained that it knows best. It knows where homes must go. It knows what communities need and want. I profoundly disagree. | "However, this approach is a leap of faith for Whitehall, which for far too long has maintained that it knows best. It knows where homes must go. It knows what communities need and want. I profoundly disagree. |
| "Communities should be able to determine their own future and decide what their area should look like in five, 10, or 20 years' time. And with that trust will come clear responsibility; after all, there will be no one else to blame for not enough homes." | "Communities should be able to determine their own future and decide what their area should look like in five, 10, or 20 years' time. And with that trust will come clear responsibility; after all, there will be no one else to blame for not enough homes." |
| Benn said Labour would "reject the orthodoxy of the past" and "give more power, more responsibility, and more rights to local people, and then let them decide". | Benn said Labour would "reject the orthodoxy of the past" and "give more power, more responsibility, and more rights to local people, and then let them decide". |
| The communities and local government secretary, Eric Pickles, said: "This government has simplified the planning system so councils have the freedom to make decisions in the best interests of their area. | The communities and local government secretary, Eric Pickles, said: "This government has simplified the planning system so councils have the freedom to make decisions in the best interests of their area. |
| "We have ensured that communities are now central to that system, which will bring about the sustainable development the country needs. | "We have ensured that communities are now central to that system, which will bring about the sustainable development the country needs. |
| "We are making the most of every inch of brownfield land to assist regeneration, and getting empty and under-used buildings back into productive use – by bringing in more flexible permitted development rights. | "We are making the most of every inch of brownfield land to assist regeneration, and getting empty and under-used buildings back into productive use – by bringing in more flexible permitted development rights. |