黑洞社区

The government has called for planning and environmental campaigners to come forward with evidence to support objections to the so-called 鈥渃ash for planning鈥� clause in the Localism Bill.

The controversial clause 15 amendment to the bill, designed to support the introduction of financial incentives to councils that allow more homes to be built, was voted through by MPs last week. This was despite Alison Seabeck, Labour housing spokesperson, accusing the government of trying to 鈥渂uy planning permissions.鈥�

Ministers are now thought to be preparing for a battle on the subject in the House of Lords, and have signalled their willingness to tweak the amendment after hearing the arguments of planners and environmental campaigners.

The clause explicitly states that councils are allowed to view cash payments from the government or developers as a 鈥渕aterial consideration鈥� in deciding a planning application, thereby shielding the New Homes Bonus from potential legal challenge.

Ministers say the clause is intended to simply make the status quo explicit, but some planners say it potentially means that cash payments could trump all other considerations.

A spokesperson for the Town and Country Planning Association, which has said the move 鈥渦ndermines鈥� the planning system, said: 鈥淲e do not think the clause can be tweaked, it needs to be taken out.鈥�

The Campaign to Protect Rural England, which has also complained about the move, is still considering whether to launch a legal challenge over the New Homes Bonus, amid growing concern from environmental groups about pro-development elements to the bill.

Michael Chambers, associate director at the British Property Federation, said: 鈥淲e鈥檙e going to get a legal view to reply to the government - they鈥檝e asked organisations to come back with their view on whether this clause changes the status quo.鈥�