Ministers will 'look again' at reforms that lead to 'ugly' buildings

Ministers will ‘look again’ at controversial planning reforms that lead to ‘ugly developments’, promises Oliver Dowden

  • New Conservative Party chairman acknowledged concerns of grassroots Tories 
  • Mr Dowden said Conservatives were ‘looking again at our planning reforms’
  • He said ‘additional safeguards’ are needed to stop ugly developments 

Ministers will ‘look again’ at planning reforms that lead to ‘ugly developments’, Oliver Dowden said yesterday.

The new Conservative Party chairman acknowledged the concerns of grassroots Tories that the strategy was costing the party votes and accused the Liberal Democrats – who won the seat of Chesham and Amersham from the Tories in June – of ‘shamelessly stoking fears’.

In his speech to the Tory party conference in Manchester, Mr Dowden said Conservatives were ‘looking again at our planning reforms’. 

Ministers will ‘look again’ at planning reforms that lead to ‘ugly developments’, Oliver Dowden said yesterday

He told delegates: ‘Our opponents – particularly the Liberal Democrats – have shamelessly stoked fears that changing the planning system will lead to ugly and disproportionate development.

‘It’s no good saying to voters in places like Chesham and Amersham, ‘Trust me, I’m a politician.’ 

‘Yes, Britain’s growing population must have new houses but it’s clear that additional safeguards are needed.

‘We need to set out in law measures to protect our towns, villages and precious countryside from being despoiled by ugly development.’

His remarks were echoed by Leader of the House of Commons Jacob Rees-Mogg who referred to ‘loony planning laws’, citing the case of a concrete tower in Teesside granted listed status by English Heritage, which was then overturned by new Culture Secretary Nadine Dorries. 

‘That’s the sort of loony planning law that we need tough-minded politicians to deal with,’ he said.

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