Gove: planning reforms were ‘mischaracterised’

Michael Gove has insisted that the government’s controversial planning reforms have been “mischaracterised” by many people.

The housing secretary, answering questions in the House of Commons yesterday, spoke publicly for the first time about the reforms, which have been dubbed a ‘developer’s charter’ by opponents.

Gove appeared keen to present his impending overhaul of planning policy as an improvement on existing proposals, rather than a complete scrapping of the reforms.

He said: “It is only fair to say that the planning white paper was mischaracterised by many.

“There is so much that is good in it, but it is important that we listen to concerns that were expressed in order to ensure that an already powerful and compelling suite of proposals is even more effective.”

Gove had earlier said he was currently considering all the responses to the white paper and will make announcements “on the next steps in due course.”

The planning white paper proposals published under Gove’s predecessor Robert Jenrick include limiting local input into planning decisions, ditching the section 106 planning obligation system and replacing it with a nationally set infrastructure levy and imposing centrally-set housing targets on councils.

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The proposals have led to concern from campaigners, the public and backbench MPs that they would lead to a lack of protection for rural areas and reduce local accountability.

The controversy was blamed by many for the Conservatives’ shock by-election defeat in Chesham and Amersham earlier this year.

Gove also said in yesterday’s debate that “many people would welcome new housing development enthusiastically” if they had the assurance of knowing that there was “sufficient investment in infrastructure” so that there was not additional pressure on public services and utilities. He said this has been incorporated into the government’s thinking on planning reform.

The comments come after two Conservative backbench MPs backed a new report by thinktank the Social Market Foundation calling for residents to be allowed to vote on whether to accept additional development in their street or village. The theory is that people will be more likely to get behind developments if they can vote on the benefits to them locally.

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