Councillor urges rethink on Government’s planning changes

Commenting on the Government's announced changes to the planning system, Liberal Democrat councillor for Doxford Heather Fagan said:

"Instead of making it easier for developers to press ahead with new housing estates without needing planning permission, what is actually needed is more thought, better planning and joined-up thinking. I fear that today's announcement will mean even less scrutiny and accountability to local councils and communities.

"The experience of the community in the Doxford and Ryhope areas of Sunderland is that thousands of new homes are being bolted on to existing roads, drainage and other infrastructure - without any decent investment in new public transport, road improvements and increasing school and GP places which are needed to make communities sustainable in the long term.

"The Government should get a grip, think again and make changes so that new infrastructure is in place before thousands of new homes are built."