Councils thwarted as MPs fail to back opt-out from home extension relaxation

Local authorities have expressed disappointment that MPs failed to back an amendment to the Growth and Infrastructure Bill that would have allowed councils to opt-out of relaxed home extension planning rules.

The amendment was introduced in the House of Lords last month. However, the Government won a vote this week in the House of Commons to reject it, by 286 votes to 259.

Cllr Mike Jones, chair of the Local Government Association's Environment and Housing Board, said: "It is hugely disappointing that MPs have failed to listen to the concerns of their constituents, councils and peers and voted against this common-sense amendment and local opt-out.

"Imposing this home extensions free-for-all on the whole country will risk opening the floodgates to thousands of unsightly and unsuitable extensions which could create disputes between neighbours, impinge on garden space and increase flood risk.”

Cllr Jones pointed out that councils approved 90% of applications, but sometimes only after securing important improvements.

He insisted that the 22,000 applications rejected by councils each year were turned down for good reasons.

Cllr Jones said: "It would be totally wrong if extensions that have previously been deemed unsuitable and a blight on the neighbourhood are now built unchallenged.

"We agree with the Government that stimulating the construction industry is essential to economic recovery but these sweeping changes which remove the rights of residents to have a say on development in their communities is not the answer.”

He added that the LGA would continue to press for the Lords to fight the case for local decision making by continuing to support the need for a local opt-out.

Communities Secretary Eric Pickles meanwhile told the House of Commons that he was looking to find a compromise.

Many Tory and Liberal Democrat MPs have voiced objections to the proposed relaxation, which is intended to boost the construction industry.

Pickles said: “in the spirit of consensus [the government] will introduce a revised approach to the contentious question of permitted development rights for home extensions when the Bill returns to the Lords”.

He added: “Given the discussions I have had with colleagues who have concerns, I believe that the problem is eminently bridgeable. I would like the opportunity to build that bridge.”