Nigel has this week brought forward a Ten Minute Rule Motion in the House of Commons on Planning Applications. In his speech Mr Evans proposed a new system of planning application approval whereby developers would enter into contracts with planning authorities to give guarantees over the timetable of building. Failure to meet this timetable would result in planning approval being withdrawn. It is hoped that this would stop land banking by developers and give local people the certainty they need when developments are proposed or approved.
Speaking in the House of Commons on Wednesday Mr Evans said, ‘Planning is one of the issues that can dominate the lives of Members of Parliament. Passions run high, and rightly so… However, we do not have a vote at planning meetings. My Bill will rebalance the position, so that, at the outset of an application, far more thought is given by developers to what they are requesting… They will need to make clear the start and completion dates of the development via a contract. Land banking and the blighting of people’s homes will no longer be acceptable.’
Speaking after the debate Mr Evans said, “For too long the planning system has taken too little regard for the lives of local people who have to endure the process of development from start to finish. During my research for the speech I found one example of a development which was completed eight and three quarter years after planning permission was given. This has to stop and I hope that my efforts will go some way to ending it.”