Councils that fail to adopt a Local Plan are allowing developers to drive forward ‘inappropriate and unsustainable development’, MPs are warning.

A report from the Communities and Local Government (CLG) Committee finds that communities are at risk of unsustainable developments as the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) allows ‘speculative’ applications by developers on the edges of towns and villages.

The MPs are urging councils to adopt a Local Plan to ensure developers cannot seek planning permission in areas deemed unsuitable for local communities.

Clive Betts, chair of the CLG Committee, said: ‘Councils must do more to protect their communities against the threat of undesirable development by moving quickly to get an adopted Local Plan in place. The NPPF is designed to work side by side with local plans. At the moment, 41% of local authorities do not have an adopted local plan which is simply not good enough.

‘To put an end to councils dragging their feet on this issue, we call for the Government to make it a statutory requirement for councils to get local plans adopted within three years of the legislation being enacted.’

The report also called for clearer guidance on how housing need should be assessed and for local authorities to review their green belts as part of the local planning process.

However, the Local Government Association (LGA) said councils have ‘long been calling’ for an end to the government's permitted development policy. A spokesman said: ‘It is absolutely vital that planning decisions are made in line with the wishes of local communities. Councils work hard to engage with residents and consult on plans for development. Local plans provide a framework for development in communities but getting a local plan right can take time.

‘This is not the right time to change the NPPF and rather than make changes or issue new guidance, we need the Government to provide developers and communities with certainty over the system and give the framework time to bed in.’