County council leaders are warning that the Government's planning reforms will strip local communities of their voice and leave rural areas exposed to unsuitable development.

The County Councils Network (CCN), responding to the Government's consultation on its proposed National Planning Policy Framework, says the changes shift decision-making away from local authorities towards a nationally-set ‘one size fits all’ approach that will override local policies.

Under mandatory housing targets introduced last year, county areas will face an average 56% increase in homes to be delivered — more than seven times the increase facing England's major cities.

The CCN warns that the reintroduction of a five-year housing land supply requirement effectively sets councils up to fail, allowing developers to exploit planning rules to push through unpopular schemes regardless of infrastructure capacity.

County council leaders say they support increasing housing supply but are urging ministers to allow greater flexibility in national planning policies, scrap the five-year supply requirement where an up-to-date local plan exists, and ensure communities retain a meaningful say in decisions shaping their areas.

Cllr Andrew Husband, Housing and Planning Spokesperson for the County Councils Network, said: ‘If the Government implements these ‘one size fits all’ policies that supersede local decision-making in tandem with its housing targets and its re-introduction of the five-year land supply, then rural and county areas could face a developer free-for-all at a time when their infrastructure is already buckling under the strain. Councils will have extremely limited powers to prevent unsuitable and unpopular development, which could lead to public distrust in the planning system.’

A Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) spokesperson said: ‘We’re building the 1.5 million homes this country needs and making sure these homes are in the right areas to benefit local people.

‘Local voices are vital in planning decisions and our proposals will provide greater certainty for local authorities, communities, and developers – whilst making sure no areas face unsuitable development.’