Writing in his weekly column for Sussex newspapers, Arundel and South Downs MP Andrew Griffith has criticised the latest changes to England’s planning rules, warning that new measures could make it harder for rural communities to tackle the blight caused by unauthorised Traveller development.
His warning comes following the news that Angela Rayner MP, Secretary of State for Housing, unveiled another rewrite of the national planning rules last week, but Mr Griffith said the changes appeared unlikely to make a material difference to delivering the homes the country needs in the right places or protecting England’s natural landscapes.
He has particular concerns about changes affecting Gypsy, Roma and Traveller sites, including the removal of specific wording relating to the environmental impact of unauthorised developments and changes to guidance on the location of Traveller sites.
Mr Griffith said the changes were particularly concerning for rural communities in West Sussex, where the impact of unauthorised development can be significant.
“Planning rules should apply equally to everyone. If a family wants to build a house, extend their property or change the use of land, they have to go through the planning system. Farmers and rural businesses know only too well how lengthy and frustrating that process can be.
“Applications are scrutinised, neighbours can object and environmental considerations are taken into account. Nobody should be able to sidestep that system by developing land first and then seeking permission afterwards.
“It is deeply concerning that Labour’s changes appear to make it harder for communities to deal with unauthorised Traveller development, including where it causes significant environmental harm.
“The planning system must be fair. The same rules should apply to everyone, and there should not be one set of rules for some communities and another for everyone else.”
Mr Griffith said a future Conservative Government would take a tougher approach to retrospective planning applications for unauthorised development and would seek to address 'two-tier' planning rules and what he describes as the unequal treatment created by the current legal framework.
