Government's U-turn on planning applications

Controversial changes to rules forcing councils to advertise contentious planning applications in newspapers have been scrapped after sparking protests.

The Government held a nationwide consultation throughout the autumn on its proposals to allow local authorities to only publish details of major schemes online.

But housing minister John Healey publicly ditched the move this week as he announced a series of steps aimed at improving and streamlining the planning process.

Advertiser editor Doug Melloy and Rotherham MP Denis MacShane both spoke out against the plans when they were unveiled in October, pointing out that they could damage local newspapers’ income and allow councils to “obscure” particularly unpopular applications.

But Mr Healey confirmed this week that the rules on advertising in newspapers would not change.

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New guidelines will say that as well as advertising in papers, local authorities will be required to publish information about planning applications on their website to ensure local residents are fully informed about planning issues in their area.

Mr Melloy, who wrote to Mr Healey, Rother Valley MP Kevin Barron and Rotherham MP Denis MacShane about the issue, this week welcomed the decision to maintain the status quo.

“The requirement for local authorities to continue to advertise planning applications in local newspapers is a victory for openness and accountability,” he added.

“As I warned previously in my letters to MPs, the Internet is far less convenient and accessible way of raising public awareness of planning applications.

“Some councils could also be tempted to obscure more controversial applications to avoid a public backlash, as happened earlier this year when the Advertiser highlighted the borough council's plans to build thousands of houses on the Bassingthorpe Farm green belt land.

“We need any and every way of alerting the public to planning applications that can have a serious effect on their lives, not fewer ways.”

Mr Healey also said that the new guidance would require councils and developers to work together before applications were submitted, ensuring that developments for businesses, offices, shops, schools and other institutions were assessed quickly.

The proposals would also reduce the number of conditions applied to planning permissions, saving time and money—up to £11 million of savings for businesses and up to £25 million for councils every year.