What ever happened to localism? People should have the right to participate in, comment on, and contribute to what happens to their neighbourhood, as in Neighbourhood Plans. Give planning decisions back to councils and allow democractic participation in the planning process.

The Planning rules must be strengthened so that housing developments are adequately served by Public Transport. If this requires the provision of new railway stations, or bus routes, then these must be in position before the development starts – the people do not have to automatically own a car to get out and about. Developers should pay for such initial provision. As regards large industrial developments or warehouses these should situated adjacent to railways so that Private Sidings can be provided either initially or at sometime in the future.

Your proposal exhibits the sort of sanity that the government proposals sadly lack

I am strongly opposed to the stripping away of what are already weak and inadequate powers for people and organisations to participate meaningfully in the planning process. These should instead be strengthened and extended to enable more democratic involvement and accountability.

If we cant have a say in what is built and where how can we possibly influence climate change and social housing. Central government needs to realise that the general public are concerned about the general health of the environment and future growth needs to consider this. Buildings should be built considering their entire impact on the current climate crisis and use brown field sites, green energy, water conservation and focus less on how much money it can return for its investors. Too may people are getting rich at a cost to the environment and the lack of affordable housing. Why aren’t the police and councils using electric vehicles, why are local tips not following the Swedish principle of burning rubbish to generate energy in recycling chimneys all this is within Governmental control, just to name a few places that a government serious about change and not profit could make a difference.