MPs offered more say on planning

Tamar Wilner, Regeneration & Renewal, 6 June 2008

As Regeneration & Renewal went to press, 63 rebel Labour MPs had signed an early-day motion attacking the bill's proposal to set up an infrastructure planning commission (IPC) to decide on applications of national importance. Unlike all existing planning authorities, the IPC would not be democratically elected. The motion said it would have "unprecedented" powers, and called on the Government to limit its powers and "restore the ministerial role in deciding major applications".

But an amendment tabled by the Government instead proposed to strengthen Parliament's role in preparing national policy statements (NPSs), the planning guidance that would inform decisions on major infrastructure such as roads, airports and power plants.

The amendment would require ministers to publish a detailed response to MPs' concerns before finalising NPSs. A separate amendment tabled by the Government proposes that residents be compensated if an NPS results in blight to their neighbourhood.

Rebel MP Clive Betts, who put down the amendment to limit the IPC's powers, told the BBC: "It is very worrying that matters such as a new nuclear power station, a new airport or a new motorway could all be determined by an unelected commissioner and not by a politician who is elected." His amendment argued that the IPC should only make recommendations and leave final decisions to the communities secretary.

A newspaper reported last week that Healey had offered MPs veto powers on plans for nuclear plants, motorways, ports and airport expansions. But a spokesman for his department said: "MPs will be able to trigger a vote on (each) NPS, but that vote is not legally binding."