ESTABLISHMENT OF INDEPENDENT LOCAL PLANNING APPEALS COMMITTEES

Early day motion 748, tabled 28 January 2010 by Paul Burstow (Liberal Democrat). Signed by 23 members.

That this House believes that the current arrangements for determining appeals against the refusal of planning permission by local authorities places too much power in the hands of the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government and the Planning Inspectorate; further believes the Planning Inspectorate to be remote and its Inspectors not sufficiently aware of the local conditions when determining appeals; congratulates the London Borough of Sutton Council for applying to use powers under the Sustainable Communities Act 2007 to pilot the establishment of an independent local appeals committee to discharge the function of the Planning Inspectorate; and calls on the Government to approve Sutton's application.

Signatures by party: Liberal Democrat 11, Labour 9, Conservative 1, Independent 1, Plaid Cymru 1.