MPs call for planning powers to be handed back to Cornwall

3.12.15pm GMT Thu 7th Dec 2006

Dan Rogerson MP

Responding to the Barker Review on Land Use Planning, the five-strong team of Liberal Democrat MPs for Cornwall (today) Wednesday said that giving planning powers from the Secretary of State to another unaccountable quango was "as unjustified as it is undemocratic" and called on Ministers to give powers back to local Councillors.

Shadow Housing Minister and North Cornwall MP, Dan Rogerson said:

"Changes to the planning system should put local communities at the heart of development decisions.

"Cornwall is in desperate need of additional housing but it should be on local people's terms.

"Handing planning powers that have hitherto rested with the Secretary of State to just another centrally-controlled quango means that residents may get their say but no one will have to listen. These are powers that should rest with local people."

Shadow Chief Secretary to the Treasury and MP for Falmouth and Camborne, Julia Goldsworthy added:

"The Chancellor has announced support for green new-build homes, and that is welcome. However, he needs to do more than token gestures.

"The Government must do more to attract developers to build on brownfield sites instead of green fields, and to make refurbishing existing homes as worthwhile as building new ones.

"That means putting back into use the thousands of homes which have become empty or derelict in the last ten years and reducing the VAT rate on renovations."