Michelle RuminskiSomerset politics reporter

BBC Gideon Amos smiling at the camera in front of a new row of houses on a new housing estate in Taunton — MP Gideon Amos wants housing decisions to be made locally

An MP has condemned planning reforms that would give the government the final say on large developments.

Gideon Amos, the MP for Taunton and Wellington in Somerset, said the planned changes “represent a serious erosion of local democracy and sideline the voices of communities”.

In November, the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government revealed a number of measures to “get spades in the ground faster” and fast-track large developments.

In a statement, the government said the proposals would ensure “good housing projects don’t get lost – restoring the dream of homeownership in Somerset and across the country”.

‘Orders from on high’

Under the measures, local councillors would no longer have the final say on housing developments of 150 homes or more.

Instead, if councillors are minded to refuse an application, they would have to inform the government, which could then decide whether to step in.

Amos, who was a government planning inspector for five years, said: “Here in Taunton and Wellington, people elect their local councillors to decide major developments and the way they will affect their town.

“That requires local knowledge and democratic accountability, not orders from on high in Whitehall.”

The government says it is overhauling the planning system in order to build 1.5 million homes

Press Association The roofs of three partly built homes are surrounded by scaffolding. Two builders in hi-vis jackets are working to lay tiles on the roof of the house closest. — The government says it is overhauling the planning system in order to build 1.5 million homes

However, the Home Builders Federation, which represents the industry across England and Wales, welcomed the measures.

Its planning director, Catherine Williams, said: “Making more land available for development and increasing the certainty – and speed – of achieving planning permission are essential steps if we are to increase housing supply.

“Ensuring more larger sites come forward and preventing unnecessary delays to the approval of appropriate sites is a positive move.”

Williams said she was yet to see the full details, but did not think they would result in local democracy being undermined.

She added there were several opportunities for locals to be heard in the planning process.

A spokesperson from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government said: “We are going further than ever to fix the housing crisis we inherited and are already seeing green shoots with a 29% annual increase in housing starts last year.

“This includes an overhaul of the planning system to build the 1.5million homes this country needs.”

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