This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-54345512

The article has changed 10 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 4 Version 5
Planning changes 'will create slums of the future' Labour loses bid to overturn planning reforms
(32 minutes later)
Labour has accused the government of creating "slums of the future" and urged Conservative MPs to vote down planning law changes. Labour has failed in an effort to overturn changes to England's planning laws, despite urging Conservative MPs to back it against the government.
It said new rules for England, allowing developers to convert shops into homes without planning permission, would mean more "poor-quality housing". The party accused ministers of creating "the slums of the future" by allowing developers to convert shops into homes without planning permission.
They are the first stage of changes to the planning system, which are provoking disquiet among some Tory MPs. This is the first stage of changes to the planning system, which are provoking disquiet among some Tory MPs.
The government promised to build the "homes communities need". The government won three House of Commons votes brought by Labour.
Labour secured a vote in the House of Commons on Wednesday in an attempt to overturn the reforms, announced before the summer recess. Housing Minister Chris Pincher told MPs that "radical reforms" to planning were "important levers in our ambition to build and build and build as we recover from the economic effects of Covid-19".
Under the changes, empty high street shops could be converted into housing and up to two storeys could be added to blocks of flats, without the need for planning permission. Labour secured the debate in an attempt to overturn planning reforms the government announced before the summer recess.
Shadow housing minister Mike Amesbury told the House of Commons that thousands of people were being "crammed into former industrial and office premises that were not built for human habitation". Under these, empty high street shops could be converted into housing and up to two storeys could be added to blocks of flats without the need for planning permission.
Labour's shadow housing minister Mike Amesbury told the Commons that thousands of people were being "crammed into former industrial and office premises that were not built for human habitation".
Some had "no or few windows" and some were "as small as 10 square metres", he added, smaller than the "average car parking space".Some had "no or few windows" and some were "as small as 10 square metres", he added, smaller than the "average car parking space".
Mr Amesbury said the government wanted to "create poor-quality housing by bypassing the local community, democracy and control by adding new units on top of flats, by allowing developers to demolish and rebuild empty buildings, and by allowing people to add multiple flaws to their homes".Mr Amesbury said the government wanted to "create poor-quality housing by bypassing the local community, democracy and control by adding new units on top of flats, by allowing developers to demolish and rebuild empty buildings, and by allowing people to add multiple flaws to their homes".
These would become "the slums of the future", he added.These would become "the slums of the future", he added.
'Crackers' 'Not enough'
There is widespread concern among Conservative MPs about the wider reforms. There is widespread concern among Conservative MPs about the government's planning reforms.
One of them, Sir Peter Bottomley, said leaseholders would suffer when extra floors were added to buildings.One of them, Sir Peter Bottomley, said leaseholders would suffer when extra floors were added to buildings.
Freeholders, by contrast, had been "given a gift... of billions of pounds", he added.Freeholders, by contrast, had been "given a gift... of billions of pounds", he added.
"If I were on the frontbench my face would be red and I'd be standing up at the end of this debate to say, 'I apologise. I got it wrong,'" Sir Peter said. "If I were on the front bench my face would be red and I'd be standing up at the end of this debate to say, 'I apologise. I got it wrong,'" Sir Peter said.
Earlier, the government announced a concession that all homes created under the scheme would in future must have at least 37 square metres of floor space - a stipulation already in place for homes requiring planning permission. Before the debate, the government announced a concession that all homes created under the scheme must now have at least 37 square metres of floor space - a stipulation already in place for homes requiring planning permission.
But Conservative MP Sir Bob Neill told the Commons this had "not gone far enough" in alleviating "the pressures that suburbs face". Conservative MP Sir Bob Neill told the Commons this had "not gone far enough" in alleviating "the pressures that suburbs face".
He said his "concerns" meant he could not vote with the government, although he would not be voting against it. However, Mr Pincher said the changes "encourage owners and property developers to see the opportunities that already exist to increase housing delivery by more imaginative use of existing buildings".
At Prime Minister's Questions, Boris Johnson said: "We are going to ensure we have a planning system that is fit for purpose, that allows us to give young people for the first time in a generation the chance of home ownership, which currently millions and millions of people are shut out from." He added; "We cannot simply sit back, as the opposition seems so fond of doing, and just wait. We have to be fiercely proactive in helping communities and developers bring forward these much-needed new homes through carefully controlled permitted development rights."
He added that it was possible to do so without "desecrating our beautiful countryside". It was important to remove "red tape" from the planning process, Mr Pincher said.
The government has devised an updated algorithm to calculate local housing need. The government has devised an updated algorithm to calculate local housing need, as part of its plans to boost development.
According to House of Commons library research, seen by the BBC, it could mean major increases in the number of new homes for some areas.According to House of Commons library research, seen by the BBC, it could mean major increases in the number of new homes for some areas.
For example, in each of the county council areas of Norfolk, Leicestershire, Kent and Worcestershire it translates to around an extra 2,000 homes a year over 15 years.For example, in each of the county council areas of Norfolk, Leicestershire, Kent and Worcestershire it translates to around an extra 2,000 homes a year over 15 years.
A Housing, Communities and Local Government Department spokesperson described Labour's claims as "misguided".
"Community involvement and control is at the centre of our proposals so local people will be consulted from the very beginning when local plans are developed - making the system more democratic," they added.