An MP has once again criticised the Government’s decision to take planning powers away from a district council.
Conservative Droitwich and Evesham MP Nigel Huddleston has called the move ‘undemocratic’, arguing that it undermines local decision-making and could have a serious impact on communities across Wychavon.
Last month, Wychavon District Council was placed under ‘special planning measures,’ meaning that major planning applications of 10 homes or more can now be submitted directly to the Planning Inspectorate instead of being decided by locally elected councillors.
Mr Huddleston said: “The Government’s decision to undermine Wychavon’s democratic planning process was wrong, and it remains wrong.
“Our area has already seen a huge increase in housing targets, yet ministers now want to take even more decisions away from locally elected councillors and hand them to Whitehall-appointed inspectors.
“I will continue to challenge this decision and stand up for local democracy.
“Planning decisions should be made by locally elected councillors who know our communities best, not by distant bureaucrats in Whitehall.”
Following the announcement, Mr Huddleston requested a meeting with the Planning Minister to discuss the decision, which he said is based on flawed data and will have significant consequences for communities across Wychavon.
Despite these concerns, the minister declined to meet with him.
Mr Huddleston said: “Given the significance of this decision, I asked the Planning Minister for a meeting so I could put forward the concerns of local residents and explain why I believe the designation is unreasonable and fundamentally wrong.
“Disappointingly, the minister would not even agree to meet.
“When I served as a minister, I always made time to meet MPs from across the political spectrum because listening to local concerns is an important part of good government.
“This government has taken powers away from local communities and now won’t even listen to those representing them.”
Mr Huddleston has repeatedly opposed broader changes to housing policy, which reduced Birmingham’s housing target by 30 per cent while South Worcestershire’s was increased by more than 80 per cent.
He said he will continue to make strong representations to Ministers and urge the Government to reverse the decision and restore local accountability in the planning system.
