Proposal to allow extensions WITHOUT planning permission sparks backlash from rural Tory MPs who warn a change in the law would cause a ‘free-for-all’ that would ‘pit neighbour against neighbour’
- MPs warn plan to allow homeowners to build extensions without planning permission could cause chaos
- Proposed shake-up of development rules is aimed at boosting house-building for economic growth
- Suburban and rural Tory MPs warn decision would reduce number of affordable homes by up to one fifth
Ministers are facing a backlash from suburban and rural Tory MPs over a proposal to allow homeowners to build extensions without planning permission.
MPs warned the plan, drawn up by Levelling Up Secretary Simon Clarke, risked ‘pitting neighbour against neighbour’ and sparking a ‘free-for-all’ which threatened the character of long-preserved towns and villages.
Mr Clarke has included the measure in a proposed shake-up of planning and development rules aimed at boosting house-building as part of the Government’s dash for economic growth.
It would involve expanding ‘permitted development rights’ so homeowners can build bigger extensions or add extra floors to their properties without planning permission.
MPs warned the plan, drawn up by Levelling Up Secretary Simon Clarke (pictured), risked ‘pitting neighbour against neighbour’ and sparking a ‘free-for-all’ which threatened the character of long-preserved towns and villages
The overhaul would also partly exempt developers from having to build affordable homes.
It would raise the threshold at which they must build them from developments with ten houses to those with 40 or even 50.
Ministers believe this will provide a shot in the arm for small and medium-sized developers still recovering from the pandemic.
But it would reduce the number of affordable homes built by up to a fifth. The plans also involve scrapping environmental protections and shelving legislation drawn up by former Cabinet minister Michael Gove, Mr Clarke’s predecessor, to ban no-fault evictions. These allow landlords to terminate tenancies without reason.
Tory MP Greg Smith, whose constituency covers rural Buckinghamshire, said he supported small extensions without planning permission but there needed to be limits.
He said: ‘People rightly like their chocolate box villages and towns and want them to remain the same.
‘This does have the potential to pit neighbour against neighbour as if we’re getting into the realms of an extra three-storey extension on the backs of houses, that’s going to cause big disputes.’
Tory MP Greg Smith said: ‘People rightly like their chocolate box villages and towns and want them to remain the same’
Steve Double, the Tory MP for St Austell and Newquay in Cornwall, added: ‘I appreciate what he is trying to do, but clearly that desire has to be tempered with proper checks and balances so we protect the character of our rural and suburban communities.
‘If it’s the case that this would lead to a free-for-all, it would be deeply concerning because our rural communities need to be protected.’
Robert Courts, the MP for Witney in the Cotswolds, said: ‘Residents will want to know they can rely on sensible safeguards to ensure the places they love are protected.’
According to The Times yesterday, Mr Clarke’s plans also include making it easier to convert commercial and agricultural properties into homes.
The proposal is one of eight changes designed by ministers to boost growth and will be formally unveiled this month.
Tom Fyans, chief executive of the countryside conservation charity CPRE, said: ‘Proposals to allow developers to build up to 50 homes without any of them being affordable would be damaging everywhere and particularly devastating for rural communities.’
The Department for Levelling Up was asked to comment.
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