Boris Johnson's direct message to Harborough residents after concerns over controversial housing plans

Boris Johnson has promised Harborough MP Neil O’Brien that drastic Government proposals to shake up planning will still leave councillors in control.

The Prime Minister spoke personally to Neil on Monday (August 3) as the MP asked for urgent reassurances over the blueprint to supercharge the entire planning process.

But Harborough councillor Cllr Phil Knowles accused the Government of aiming to ram “a double-decker bus” through the current system – throwing local democracy into serious jeopardy.

The firestorm has blown up after Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick said new homes and hospitals will be given "automatic" permission to be built as red tape is ripped up.

Mr Jenrick said "permission in principle" will be awarded to developments on land designated "for renewal" in a bid to fast-track building projects and fire up the country’s battered economy after the Covid-19 crisis.

Minutes after speaking to Boris Johnson, Neil told the Harborough Mail: “I told him that people would want to know that local councillors would have powers to control issues like flooding, transport and the construction process.

“The Prime Minister reassured me that they would and there would be no question of councils being asked to build on flood plains or anything like that.”

The Conservative MP, who takes a special interest in planning and housing, is giving a cautious thumbs up to Boris Johnson’s dramatic £5 billion pledge to “build, build build”.

“We will have to wait and see exactly what comes forward.

“Some of the things that are being talked about are things which I have written about.

“I’ve made the case for them when I've brought officials from the housing department and the Treasury to Market Harborough.

“There is no doubt the planning system is broken and needs to change.

“The plan to enable more of the gains from planning approval to be retained by the local community sounds very positive.

“I have argued for a long time that it's outrageous that developers make massive profits while dumping the cost of new infrastructure onto the taxpayer,” insisted Neil.

“I also like the sound of plans to have some of the homes on new estates be marked for discounted sale to nearby residents.

“At the moment the local community sees far too little of the benefit of development.

“Clearly there will always have to be a role for local councils in making decisions about traffic, flooding and other aspects of detailed planning decisions.

“Harborough Council, unlike some others, is in the fortunate position of having an adopted local plan.

“I don't see any evidence that local councils refuse houses on sites where they have previously put them in the plan for new homes.”

But the Government’s sensational move to trigger the biggest rejig of the country’s planning in over 70 years has been slammed by Cllr Phil Knowles.

Furious Cllr Knowles, who heads up Harborough council’s Liberal Democrats, told the Mail: “This is a recipe for chaos – it could spark a free-for-all.

“It will drive a double-decker bus through our planning laws and regulations.

“Permission for local building projects has to be handed out by local councils for local people.

“This would impact on thousands of families throughout Harborough alone – as well as on every home in England.”

The councillor said he feared the wide-ranging reforms will result in poor quality houses being erected.

"This looks like the removal of local accountability and a vital layer of local democracy.

“Democracy has to be seen to be done,” stressed Cllr Knowles.

“We had about 12 public speakers when we debated the Lutterworth East development a few days ago – that’s real democracy in action.

“We need to have a full public consultation on this sweeping top to bottom mix-up.

“And as well as all interested parties, I’d urge everyone to get involved and have their say before it’s too late.

“I am shocked by the sheer scale of changes to our planning process that the Government’s proposing.

“We may need one or two tweaks to the system.

“But our planning procedure is tried and tested over many years – and it works.

“The fallout from this massive root and branch scheme would be huge – and that will be totally unacceptable and untenable.”

Cllr Phil King, the leader of Harborough council, said: “At face value the Government wants to speed up building.

“But nine out of 10 applications are agreed by local councils anyway.

“It should be left to local authorities such as our council to decide planning applications.”

The Conservative council chief said they allocate land usage in their local plan while there are also neighbourhood plans throughout the district to define what should be built where.

“Land value is a huge problem – anything that addresses that issue would be welcome.

“We have given absolute clarity and certainty in our local plan for Harborough,” said Cllr King.

“The plan encapsulates what the Government is trying to do here.

“Our councillors possess invaluable local knowledge, insight and expertise and care about where they live and the people they represent.

“So the right to decide local planning applications should continue to be left to us.”