I WOULD like to add my voice to that of the National Trust in calling on the coalition government to rethink its proposed changes to the planning system, contained in the draft National Planning Policy Framework.

I have written to the Government and to my MP and urge others to do the same.

The National Trust wants the coalition government to: Å Strike a better balance between economic, social and environmental considerations in the planning system; Å Abandon its principle of a default “yes” to planning applications; Å Retain the “brownfield first”

approach to development; and Å Ensure local plans are created by democratically accountable representatives not businesses.

While agreeing with these points I would like to add the following.

If a genuine balance between economic, social and environmental considerations is to be achieved, the emphasis on “sustainable development” needs to be clearly defined and agreed, and any move to allow financial considerations to dominate must be resisted.

The obstacle to building affordable housing is not the current planning system but a lack of money, worsened by cutting the affordable housing budget by 60 per cent.

The presumption in favour of Greenfield sites instead of brownfield first, as well as putting at risk much valued countryside, also removes the priority for town centres first and will encourage out of town development with multiple consequences including increased traffic, threats to legally binding air quality, carbon reduction and health targets, and damaging effects on town centre viability.

The plans appear to scrap the duty to ensure development minimises traffic movement, and do not include renewable energy requirements, abolished with the Regional Spatial Strategy and regional targets.

Consultation by government and local authorities needs to be genuine and accessible, not just the “tick box” process that so often replaces real consultation, and results in a lack of confidence among the public.

Green party leader Caroline Lucas MP said the party has enormous concerns regarding the power and influence of powerful lobbyists for the building industry who are routinely putting profit before people. She said David Cameron himself described lobbying as ‘the next big scandal waiting to happen’ in a speech last year and yet is allowing developers free rein in the disastrous NPPF.

These concerns have caused a huge public outcry and we must ensure that they are all properly addressed.

COUN FELICITY NORMAN, Luston, Leominster