Skip to main content
Site logo
Milton Keynes
Conservatives

Main navigation

  • About us
  • Councillors
  • MPs
  • News
  • Campaigns
  • Contact
  • 2021 Local Issues Survey
Site logo
Milton Keynes
Conservatives

Is MK Council’s error-plagued planning service capable of greater responsibility?

  • Tweet
Wednesday, 12 August, 2020
pla

The government’s sweeping reforms to England’s planning system has been published in a white paper called “Planning for the Future”. The white paper sets out the government’s vision for the future of England’s planning system and includes widespread changes to local plans, land categorisation, design standards, affordable housing and developer contributions. 

The new guidance is set to change the way local authorities conduct planning while also removing checks and balance powers from local councillors. 

These reforms mean MK Council’s planning will be in sole charge of where developments are allocated under the new land categorisation reforms that will separate land into three sections: growth, renewal and protection. They will also provide greater powers to create their own local design codes so that developments can reflect “local character and community preferences”.

Subsequently, the changes will pass greater responsibility onto local council’s planning departments and this is raising concerns in MK where a catalogue of errors have plagued the Labour-led Council’s planning service.

Only last month, MK Council’s planning department faced a criminal complaint passed onto Thames Valley Police over alleged “misconduct in the public office” in relation to a warehouse development in Blakelands. 

This failing is one in a long-line of planning controversies that have attached themselves to the Labour-run Council that also include putting the future of Wavendon’s iconic and popular Stables venue at risk. 

The Conservative council group and two city MPs have recently sent a letter to the Secretary of State, Robert Jenrick, requesting an independent inspection into the Council’s planning department. They are seeking answers to how residents can trust the planning service to use these expanded powers and regulations at a time where public trust in the department is at an all-time low.

The Leader of the Conservative Council Group, Cllr Alex Walker, said:

“The Blakelands scandal is one in a long line of planning scandals that has produced a raft of questions over the Labour-run Council’s ability to perform the most simple of planning responsibilities and deliver for our residents.

It is imperative that we have an independent inspection into the Council’s planning department so that our residents can be assured that any future growth will not negatively impact their standard of living due the Council’s planning failures. “

 

  • Local News

You may also be interested in

civic

Yet Another Council HQ Refurb

Wednesday, 24 February, 2021

MK Council’s Civic Offices are set to undergo another round of refurbishment just over a year on from completing an £11 million renovation to the Council HQ that went £7 million over budget.

Show only

  • Articles
  • Local News
  • National News

Join or Renew

By joining the Conservative Party, you're doing your bit to help change Britain.

Your support is vital to our campaign to build a better future.

accepted-payment-cards

Donate

We need to build a strong voice for local Conservatives and we can only do that with your help.

Any donation will make a difference.

accepted-payment-cards

Milton Keynes Conservatives

Footer

  • About RSS
  • Accessibility
  • Cookies
  • Privacy
  • About us
  • Join Us
Site logoPromoted behalf of Milton Keynes Conservative Association Bletchley Conservative Club. 111 Queensway. Bletchley, Milton Keynes. MK2 2DN
Copyright 2021 Milton Keynes Conservatives. All rights reserved.
Powered by Bluetree