Harrogate Lib Dem leader fears mass developments could be rushed through under government's 'dreadful' planning shake-up

Coun Pat Marsh - who also sits on the district's planning committee - has expressed fears that communities could lose local control under the new rules which will divide land into three categories - 'growth', 'renewal' or 'protected'.

If land is designated for 'renewal', Harrogate Borough Council will have to look favourably on new developments. In 'growth' areas, new homes, hospitals and schools will be allowed automatically.

Areas of outstanding natural beauty and the green belt will come under the 'protected'.

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Ministers have said the sweeping changes will make it quicker to build much-needed new homes and stop local opponents blocking development in designated growth zones.

But Coun Marsh said the reforms will give developers the upper-hand and lead them to building "the slums of the future".

"I am outraged at these policies being pushed onto local communities, this will be dreadful for them, their voices will be lost in these changes", she said.

"The new permitted development rights do not allow local people a say in the way their area looks. All the years of protecting the heritage of our towns which make them unique will be lost.

"It really is an ill thought through policy that will only benefit volume house builders, who yet again appear to have successfully lobbied government to obtain this dreadful proposal."

Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick said local people would get a "meaningful say" at the start of the planning process, but will not be able to block new schemes after that.

He claimed local people "did not have a great deal of influence" over the current planning system and that few people engaged with it.

The government says it wants to reduce the number of planning cases that get overturned at appeal by creating a "clearer, rules-based system".

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A new national charge for developers - replacing the existing Section 106 agreements and the Community Infrastructure Levy - will also be introduced to fund projects such as schools, roads and GP surgeries, and a fixed proportion of affordable homes.

But Coun Marsh said: "Developers will ride roughshod over our communities and there will be no guarantees of quality standards, there will be the loss of affordable homes, no contributions towards highways issues or local schools.

"The system did not need reforming, the right for local residents or communities to have their say in the way their communities are developed and delivered is surely a fundamental right."

Harrogate Borough Council adopted its Local Plan earlier this year but the blueprint has already come into question with councillors saying they are "stuck" having to approve developments they don't like.

Under the government's new policy, once a Local Plan is agreed, developers can press on with confidence.

It is part of the government's plan to "build, build, build" to soften the "economic aftershock" of coronavirus.

Coun Marsh said: "This could lead to the creation of the slums of the future.

"The government has got it so wrong and many of our town centres will be blighted by this get rich quick scheme."

By Jacob Webster, Local Democracy Reporter