This article in the Daily Telegraph highlights a growing debate on how & just as importantly who manages our planning system.Any government committed to a localist agenda should regard most planning decisions as being made locally, by elected representatives. Few if any decisions should be taken regionally or nationally.The daft presumption in favour of development might be good news for the construction industry, but I fear that this might lead to a short term commercial boost, which is helpful, but may lead to decisions we come to regret in future years as swathes of Green Belt disappear.We have correctly moved away from the Prescott approach to regional spatial planning, there should be no return to top down planning policy imposed on localities!
