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| George Osborne plans deregulation of planning laws | George Osborne plans deregulation of planning laws |
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| George Osborne has signalled plans for a major deregulation of planning laws, raising the prospect of allowing more development of green belt land. | |
| In an interview on Sunday, the chancellor of the exchequer said he wanted to see more "imaginative" thinking by planning authorities, which could allow building on previously protected land. | |
| His words will anger some ministers and members of the coalition who have campaigned for protected green belt around urban areas to remain free of development. | |
| The announcement will also be seen as an acknowledgement that the country needs a major injection of capital to boost a flagging economy. | The announcement will also be seen as an acknowledgement that the country needs a major injection of capital to boost a flagging economy. |
| In the interview with the BBC's Andrew Marr, Osborne acknowledged the difficulties the country was having in moving out of recession, saying there was no "magical" solution but insisted that despite sustained negative growth progress was being made. | |
| He refused to say whether he would give up his role as head of the Conservatives' political strategy in the cabinet reshuffle – due to be announced this week – in order to focus on the economy. | |
| Osborne also refused to rule out the option of building a third runway at Heathrow, saying "all options" were being considered. Last week, Downing Street insisted it was sticking to the coalition policy not to add a new runway, despite intense pressure from the business sector and Tory backbenches to reconsider. | |
| Osborne said new planning legislation would be brought before parliament in the next two weeks. | |
| "We will have a specific piece of legislation published next week so that government can use the low interest rates we have earned by being tough on the deficit to underwrite construction projects including housing," he said. | "We will have a specific piece of legislation published next week so that government can use the low interest rates we have earned by being tough on the deficit to underwrite construction projects including housing," he said. |
| Asked if this would mean that developers will be allowed to build on green belt land, Osborne said: "We published our national planning policy framework in March and we are not preparing to tear that up. | |
| "But if you look for example at Cambridge, they have been pretty smart about swapping some bits of the green belt for other bits – in other words allowing some development on the green belt if you bring in bring in new pieces of land into the green belt. | "But if you look for example at Cambridge, they have been pretty smart about swapping some bits of the green belt for other bits – in other words allowing some development on the green belt if you bring in bring in new pieces of land into the green belt. |
| "Those powers already exist but are not widely used. I would like to see more," he said. | "Those powers already exist but are not widely used. I would like to see more," he said. |
| Planning policy was thought to be a settled issue after the government backed down on plans to loosen planning rules earlier this year following a campaign by the National Trust. | Planning policy was thought to be a settled issue after the government backed down on plans to loosen planning rules earlier this year following a campaign by the National Trust. |
| Councils are drawing up new local development plans to comply with the national planning policy framework (NPPF) by next April. | |
| Under plans being considered by ministers, local authorities will no longer be required to hold a public inquiry if green belt land loses its protected status. | Under plans being considered by ministers, local authorities will no longer be required to hold a public inquiry if green belt land loses its protected status. |
| England's green belt covers over 6,000 sq miles of countryside around towns and cities to prevent urban sprawl. | England's green belt covers over 6,000 sq miles of countryside around towns and cities to prevent urban sprawl. |
| The prime minister, David Cameron, is expected to announce new measures to stimulate the housing market on Thursday. | |
| Osborne's plans are likely to be bitterly fought inside the cabinet, with senior Liberal Democrats and the communities secretary, Eric Pickles – who negotiated the peace deal over the NPPF – reportedly opposed to further changes. | Osborne's plans are likely to be bitterly fought inside the cabinet, with senior Liberal Democrats and the communities secretary, Eric Pickles – who negotiated the peace deal over the NPPF – reportedly opposed to further changes. |
| The chancellor declined to say whether the announcement was an acknowledgement that the government's economic strategy was not working. "They are difficult times for the British economy, difficult times for the world, but our economy is healing, jobs are being created. It is taking time but there is no easy route to a magical recovery," he said. | |
| "This country faces a big question about this country's future role in the world. I am determined that we will be in the right place at the right time to ensure that we are one of the western economies that thrives in this new world," he said. | "This country faces a big question about this country's future role in the world. I am determined that we will be in the right place at the right time to ensure that we are one of the western economies that thrives in this new world," he said. |
| Osborne also refused to say whether he would give up his role as the Tories' senior political strategist – despite demands from backbenchers that he concentrate on the economy. "I am 110% focused on the economy – any changes to the cabinet will be announced by the prime minister," he said. | |
| Cameron has signalled the start of his political fightback by vowing to "cut through the dither" that he says is holding Britain back. | Cameron has signalled the start of his political fightback by vowing to "cut through the dither" that he says is holding Britain back. |
| As MPs prepare to return to Westminster on Monday following the summer break, the prime minister promised a series of high-profile initiatives to get the country moving again and breathe new life into the flagging economy. | As MPs prepare to return to Westminster on Monday following the summer break, the prime minister promised a series of high-profile initiatives to get the country moving again and breathe new life into the flagging economy. |
| His comments will be seen as a riposte to discontented Tory MPs who have attacked his leadership during the recess, with one senior backbencher suggesting he was a political "mouse". | His comments will be seen as a riposte to discontented Tory MPs who have attacked his leadership during the recess, with one senior backbencher suggesting he was a political "mouse". |
| Writing in the Mail on Sunday, Cameron made clear he was ready to take on his critics – bringing forward controversial measures to boost growth by relaxing the planning rules. | Writing in the Mail on Sunday, Cameron made clear he was ready to take on his critics – bringing forward controversial measures to boost growth by relaxing the planning rules. |
| He said the country could not afford the "paralysis" that causes new housing developments to be held up by entrenched local opposition and lengthy planning inquiries. | He said the country could not afford the "paralysis" that causes new housing developments to be held up by entrenched local opposition and lengthy planning inquiries. |
| "A familiar cry goes up, 'Yes we want more housing; but no to every development – and not in my back yard'. The nations we're competing against don't stand for this kind of paralysis and neither must we," he wrote. | "A familiar cry goes up, 'Yes we want more housing; but no to every development – and not in my back yard'. The nations we're competing against don't stand for this kind of paralysis and neither must we," he wrote. |
| "Frankly, I am frustrated by the hoops you have to jump through to get anything done – and I come back to parliament more determined than ever to cut through the dither that holds this country back." | "Frankly, I am frustrated by the hoops you have to jump through to get anything done – and I come back to parliament more determined than ever to cut through the dither that holds this country back." |
| Meanwhile, Tory rightwinger David Davis said the government must draw up a new, alternative pro-growth strategy to get the economy moving. | Meanwhile, Tory rightwinger David Davis said the government must draw up a new, alternative pro-growth strategy to get the economy moving. |
| In an interview with the Sunday Telegraph, Cameron's former rival for the party leadership warned that a further round of spending cuts before the general election in 2015 was "inevitable". | In an interview with the Sunday Telegraph, Cameron's former rival for the party leadership warned that a further round of spending cuts before the general election in 2015 was "inevitable". |
| "The coalition's cuts should have been earlier and deeper," he said. "This is not about individual policy areas. This is about something more fundamental … something deeper. There is an alternative economic policy." | "The coalition's cuts should have been earlier and deeper," he said. "This is not about individual policy areas. This is about something more fundamental … something deeper. There is an alternative economic policy." |