Betts: Undermining the environment

Clive Betts, chair of the communities and local government committee commented on his report on local planning:

"The way the framework is drafted currently gives the impression that greater emphasis should be given in planning decisions to economic growth.

"This undermines the equally important environmental and social elements of the planning system. As currently drafted the 'default yes' to development also carries the risk of the planning system being used to implement unsustainable development.

"The document omits any reference to 'brownfield development first'. We welcome the Government's openness to reinstating the familiar and well understood term 'brownfield development' in the NPPF. For similar reasons the NPPF should be revised to reflect the 'Town Centre First' policy."