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Housing minister criticises Spelman letter - September 2009

Housing Minister John Healey has criticised the shadow communities secretary Caroline Spelman over a letter she sent to all Conservative run councils asking them to delay major schemes until after the general election.  The letter outlines the Conservative party's intention to do away with regional planning structures, introducing a local government and housing bill in its first year of office.

The letter also says the Tories would allow local authorities to "put the brakes on elements of RSSs which they find undesirable such as green belt reviews."  Also local authorities would be able to review their Local Development Frameworks to do away with unwanted planning policies imposed on them by regional planning.

In the Financial Times Healey has expressed his concerns over the letter however: "She is inciting Tory councils to put the shutters down on planning decisions, that will stop housebuilding in its tracks, so we won't get the homes we need built and the construction jobs which go with them.  This knocks confidence in the building industry at a time where it needs maximum certainty."