Localism Bill

Debate between Lord Sharma and Baroness Morgan of Cotes

Monday 17th January 2011 Commons Chamber

[Alok Sharma]

Indeed he did.

Labour’s clear message appeared to be that we cannot possibly trust local people to make decisions on planning at a local level.

[Nicky Morgan]

Does my hon. Friend agree that that top-down approach has not worked? There are fewer houses being built now than in 1997.

[Alok Sharma]

My hon. Friend is absolutely right. Under the previous Conservative Government between 1979 and 1996, an average of 171,000 homes were built every year across England. By contrast, under Labour, with its top-down approach and targets, an average of only 145,000 homes were built each year between 1997 and 2009.

The problem with the current planning system is that it is not seen to be fair to local communities. It seeks to drown out their voices rather than to amplify them. Despite the clear wishes of local communities and local councils, the local view is that developers eventually ram through inappropriate developments on appeal.