Robert Halfon MP votes for “Developer’s Charter” that gags local residents over planning decisions

HARLOW residents will be blocked from objecting to new developments across Harlow after local Conservative MP Robert Halfon voted to pass controversial new laws in the House of Commons says council leader Mark Ingall.

Under the new laws, developers will be free to add two storeys to existing tower blocks – creating taller buildings in previously low-rise residential neighbourhoods.   

They will also be free to demolish temporarily empty shops in high streets and convert them into flats, creating dead areas on high streets where shops may never reopen.  Home owners will also be allowed to build towering extensions up to two storeys high, invading their neighbours’ privacy and blocking out light – but neighbours will be banned from objecting.   

The Conservative Government tried to push through the controversial new laws without going to the House of Commons, but Labour MPs demanded a debate and a vote in a bid to stop local residents’ losing their say. 

Communities will now be silenced so developers’ can change the character of local neighbourhoods against residents’ wishes.  The Conservatives are planning to bring forward further draconian new measures allowing developers to bulldoze and concrete over local communities, with boards of developers appointed by Whitehall given full control over decisions instead of local people says the Labour Party.

Mark Ingall, Leader of Harlow Council said ” After being part of the government that denied Harlow Council planning control over office block conversions that brought us abominations like Terminus House, Robert Halfon is selling out local communities again. This is the first stage of an atrocious new Developers’ Charter, which will snatch power away from local people and place it in the hands of the wealthy developers, many of whom are donors to the Conservative Party.

“This legislation threatens our high streets and allows towering extensions that invade their neighbours’ privacy – and there will be nothing local people can do to stop it.”

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Comments

Michael Patrick

This is appalling legislation that will throw away section 106 that has already been deregulated on the amount of Social or council housing. it does not even have the word Council housing in it. .the very reason we are in the housing crises of permitted developments, over crowded multy occupied homes ,Homelessness.( more to be driven on to the streets when eviction notices hit the courts over the next few months .is the truly affordable Council house building that has been proven to be self financing.as the white paper states in its introduction to build a nation of home owner ship.not a problem but will not solve the housing need of those in the permitted developments ,Housing needs list and on the street.

Pete

Will be interesting to see what Robert Halfon has to say about it.