The Local Government Association (LGA) has called on the Government to stop dictating housing and planning priorities to councils. Chair of the LGA environment board, Paul Bettison, said that while the Government's new planning policy statement, which is out this week, was a ‘step in the right direction', it did not address more fundamental problems. New government guidance is expected to tell councils to approve developments, with more family homes and green spaces. Cllr Bettison's comments came after housing minister, Yvette Cooper, reportedly told a meeting of the Town and Country Planning Association: ‘We want councils to be thinking about parks, not just parking.' Cllr Bettison said: ‘The bottom line is, central government still has the final say over where new homes are located and tells councils how many new homes they must allow in their area.' ‘This has not helped to increase the overall supply of housing and in some cases, is threatening the very fabric of local communities.' Meanwhile, London Councils has called on the Government not to introduce a planning gain supplement in the capital as part of next week's pre-Budget report.
