Planning Decisions: Local Involvement

James Daly Excerpts

Monday 21st June 2021 Commons Chamber

[James Daly (Bury North) (Con) [V]]

This is a really important debate about the role that local communities play in the planning process. As we have heard from Members from all parties, communities have their own priorities. In Bury, we have a thriving local debate about where we feel housing should be put and the type of housing we need in our area. Organisations such as Bury Folk Keep It Green are at the forefront of the debate. Thousands of my constituents in Bury hold the view that their priority is to protect the green belt, and there is a clear local view that people want their democratically elected politicians to protect it.

Let us look at the Government’s position. The recent response to the Government’s consultation on changes to the current planning system makes it crystal clear that

“meeting housing need is never a reason to cause unacceptable harm to such”

things as the green belt or countryside. Indeed, in that consultation response the Government go on to say:

“We can plan for well designed, beautiful homes, with access to the right infrastructure in the places where people need and want to live while also protecting the environment and green spaces communities most value.”

Why are we not in that situation in Bury? Why are the Greater Manchester spatial framework and other such documents being railroaded through, destroying the green belt in Walshaw and Tottington and at Elton reservoir? The reason is that my local Labour council will not put a local plan in place. How can planning exist in any way, shape or form when our local Labour council do not have a local plan? It is simply beyond belief that, since 1997, we in Bury have not had a local vision of how our communities should look. I implore Bury Labour: please, put a local plan in place that protects our green belt, rather than subcontracting the responsibility—

[Mr Deputy Speaker (Mr Nigel Evans)]

Order. Sorry, James, but it is 10 past 7 and we have to start the wind-ups. At least you got in.