This change to the Planning rules threatens to destroy the democratic process and to undermine all the hard work that has gone into creating Neighbourhood Plans. Local opinion and support is crucial to fair and democratic government. The proposed changes do nothing but pander to developers and central government.

It is vitally important that planning serves a purpose of ensuring that we live in decent, well planned areas that are sustainable. It is equally important that members of the public can have input into the planning system, and be able to comment upon and influence, the decisions on planning applications.

If not now, when? This is such an important document for the times we are living in and the times yet to come. How we frame our lives, invest in our communities, shape our society are the big ticket issues of the 21st century and planning lies at the heart of all of them. Would that that was the case for the last quarter of the 20th century, but we are where we are, and where we are is increasing numbers saying, not on our watch, any more. For too long planning decisions have been seen as nothing much to do with us, unless it’s our conservatory that’s on the agenda. But that myth has got to be punctured once and for all. What’s in the pipeline if we don’t stand up and be counted on the changes around planning that are being proposed has absolutely nothing to do with conservatories and everything to do with decent homes for people everywhere ; green spaces for all of us to benefit from; shops and schools and doctors near to where we live; a society created with respect for the many not the few. I’d even go beyond what’s in the charter. I’d invest in a citizens rights to benefit from the public realm in their neighbourhoods in ways that we only see happening in times of war. I’d invest in programmes that built up peoples knowledge and self confidence so that instead of reactors to the suggestions of others, they contribute their own solutions to what’s happening in and around their communities. I’d trust people to be more innovative and radical in times of need than any top down regime could ever hope to be. We face a decade that will define our children’s future. How we behave, engage, and invest our resources will determine whether the aspirations of increasing numbers in our society to create a kinder, more inclusive prosperity are realised or not. And an inclusive prosperity needs an inclusive planning system that puts the wellbeing of the many right at its core. Nothing is written in our stars. This is the time to say, what’s being proposed simply will not do.