Public will sue councils opposing relaxation of planning rules: Pickles

The Communities Secretary has warned councils opposing the Government’s proposed liberalisation of the planning rules governing property extensions that they face being sued by the public, it has been reported.

The controversial plan to increase significantly the size of extension that can be built without planning permission was contained in the housing and growth stimulus package unveiled earlier this month.

It has met with opposition from a number of authorities, including the London boroughs of Richmond and Sutton.

However, according to a report in the Daily Mail, Eric Pickles has suggested that local authorities would have to make an Article Four direction if they wanted to protect neighbourhoods from the Government’s liberalisation.

The Communities Secretary argued that members of the public prevented from building an extension could seek compensation.

Pickles said: “If [councils] decide not to do this, then they have a thing called an Article Four arrangement. If they do that, then a member of the public can seek damages against them.

‘So it’ll be the public that will be taking on the councils if they decide to go against what will be a very reasoned, very civilised and very straightforward change.”