Government 'power grab' strips local planning powers

The decision to strip a local authority of its ability to make decisions on major planning applications has been described as a government "power grab" by an MP.

On Monday, Cherwell District Council was one of nine local authorities across England to be designated - meaning all applications for major developments may now go straight to the Planning Inspectorate.

Lesley McLean, the Liberal Democrat leader of the council, called the government decision "disappointing and, frankly, frustrating".

But the Labour MP for Banbury, Sean Woodcock, disagreed, saying the local authority was "not fit for purpose when it comes to planning".

"This decision will ensure that taxpayer's money is looked after properly, and that much needed homes are actually delivered," he added.

The designation means planning decisions on major developments in north Oxfordshire could bypass the council, and instead head straight to the government for approval.

It is based on data from planning appeals for major developments between 2023 and 2025.

Cherwell had just over 11% of decisions on major planning applications overturned at appeal in that period, which is above the government's threshold for designation.

The decision will not affect several ongoing applications in the region - including £600m plans for a Puy Du Fou historical theme park near Bucknell and 9,000 new homes at Heyford Park.

Nor does it impact smaller planning applications, such as those made by homeowners to alter or extend their houses.

McClean criticised the government decision, saying it appeared "more interested in judging Cherwell's past performance than recognising the progress being made today".

"Residents expect major decisions affecting their communities to be shaped by local knowledge and local accountability," she said.

"This designation creates a route for those decisions to be made by the Planning Inspectorate, outside the local democratic process."

Calum Miller, the Lib Dem MP for Bicester and Woodstock, was equally critical of the government designation - labelling it a "Whitehall power grab".

"The Government is blaming Cherwell for delays to development caused in large part by national infrastructure failure," he said.

"Local people are being punished for a problem Ministers have failed to solve," he added.

The designation came into force on Monday, and will not end until it is revoked by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government.