We desperately need planning to be more democratic, not less, so that local communities can be invested in ensuring development meets local needs and reflects the imperative for real sustainability

I have been involved in fighting inappropriate development in the past (and been on the winning side) but the latest planning proposals remove the rights of citizens to have a meaningful voice regarding the planning process. This imposition of arbitrary planning rules will be anti-democratic and will be disastrous for the environment, for sustainable and affordable housing in the right places and for communities. Think again government.