CPRE slams Pickles for legalising "cash for sprawl" through Localism Bill amendment

The Campaign for the Protection of Rural England (CPRE) has accused the Communities Secretary of a “brazen attempt to legalise cash for sprawl” through a recent amendment to the Localism Bill.

In February the CPRE said it had received a legal opinion which suggested that planning decisions could be “tainted and open to question” if the government went ahead with proposals to link the outcome of decisions to un-ring fenced financial rewards as set out in the New Homes Bonus. The campaign group predicted that there would be an upsurge in challenges as a result.

But this week Eric Pickles introduced an amendment to the Bill which the CPRE said would allow councils to get round this restraint and accept government money for agreeing to allow development.

The group said councils would be rewarded for making pro-growth decisions “regardless of whether the development is in line with the local plan or environmentally sustainable”.

Neil Sinden, Director of Policy for CPRE, said: “This amendment is a brazen attempt to legalise cash for sprawl. Many may have criticised the UK planning system in the past, but at least decisions were, on the whole, made on merit and not money.

“Councils are currently facing hard financial choices. In these circumstances it is very tempting to seek to fill shrinking coffers by permitting any development, regardless of its environmental impact or the views of local communities.”

But Sinden warned that decisions based on financial benefit, rather than on whether proposed development is appropriate, could be “hugely damaging” to the environment and public confidence in planning.

“It also undermines the fundamental principle that planning decisions should be in the long-term public interest, taking account of land use consequences,” he added.

The British Property Federation has meanwhile welcomed amendments to the Localism Bill that it claimed would for the first time give businesses a voice in the planning system.

The changes would see membership of neighbourhood forums, which will be empowered to draw up planning documents for their communities, made open to businesses with links to the area.

British Property Chief Executive Liz Peace said: “Businesses, including property owners, are as much a part of a community as residents and their involvement will be vital if Government is to realise its aim of using the planning system to boost development and economic growth.”