The government has passed an amendment in the Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill (LURB) that will give the Secretary of State power to override local development plans and with it, the voices of local communities.
 Local democracy is back under attack. The government has passed an amendment in the Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill (LURB) that will give the Secretary of State power to override local development plans and with it, the voices of local communities.The new amendment will allow the government to implement National Development Management Policies (NDMPs) without clear assurances as to how it will consult local people, and with no need for consultation at all where policies are deemed ‘urgent or expedient’ [1]. This blatant disregard for local democracy cannot be allowed to become law. Will you donate today to help us campaign for power to be put back in the hands of local people? When national policy and local policy conflict, local plans will be overridden and priority will be given to NDMPs, should this amendment become part of the final Act. This is especially concerning since local plans – which include issues such as Green Belt release, new housing provision and the safeguarding of natural habitats – undergo extensive public consultation, while NDMPs will not. It could mean more inappropriate quick-fix developments being imposed on local people against their will, and giving government ministers more say over what happens on your street than you, your neighbours and locally elected councillors. This would increase the strain on infrastructure and community services and, above all, put our precious countryside at risk. Can you give today to show the government that it’s local people, not national politicians who should choose what gets built in their local area? Yes, I’ll donate today The threat of NDMPs is not new. In September, we successfully campaigned for an amendment to the LURB that would require public and parliamentary scrutiny of new NDMPs [2]. But the government has ignored this, with the new amendment effectively restoring the bill to its original state. We believe that sound evidence and proper scrutiny are essential for good planning outcomes that serve people, nature and the countryside. And we know you do too. The Bill now goes back to the House of Lords in what may be our last chance to enshrine democratic scrutiny back in the text. With your help, we can build enough support in parliament to pile pressure on the government to reverse their decision and return people to the heart of our planning system. Yours sincerely,Mark RobinsonCampaigns OfficerCPRE The countryside charity P.S. Please donate today to stop the government’s outrageous and underhanded power grab. Government ‘avoids scrutiny’ after levelling up bill amendments – Local Government Chronicle Win for local communities as NDMP scrutiny amendment is passed in the Lords – CPRE |
Save Hardy's Vale 