Before the general election, Conservatives pledged to reform the planning regime for traveller sites and ensure fair play in planning. The Labour Government introduced a series of planning changes which undermined local discretion and turned a blind eye to unauthorised development. In doing so, they damaged the integrity of the planning system and worsened community cohesion.
The Government's new guidance replaces the flawed Labour planning circulars on travellers – the notorious Circular 01/06 – issued by John Prescott in 2006.
The new guidance strengthens protection of the Green Belt and open countryside. It introduces clear and unambiguous statements that “traveller sites (temporary or permanent) in the Green Belt are inappropriate development” and “local planning authorities should strictly limit new traveller site development in open countryside”.
The planning guidance will help councils in planning enforcement cases against unauthorised development. Labour guidance restricting the ability to use enforcement action has been removed. This is in addition to provisions in the Localism Act that give councils new powers to tackle the intentional abuse of retrospective planning permission (whilst still allowing for the correction of innocent mistakes by householders).
Graham said: 'These changes will strengthen community cohesion by ensuring a sense of fairness in the planning system. It is wrong that through Labour's guidance, harmful inappropriate development - such as the site at Towers Lane in Alvanley - has been granted temporary permission. The revised guidance will give Councils the power to protect our precious Green Belt.”