County council leaders have warned that new planning rules unveiled by the Government risk weakening local communities' voices and shifting the balance of power towards developers.
Cllr Andrew Husband, housing and planning spokesperson for the County Councils Network, said the network's members believed the updated National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) could increase the risk of unsustainable development in areas lacking adequate infrastructure and services.
He said ‘one size fits all’ policies could disproportionately harm rural areas, and that a new ‘default yes’ for homes near well-connected stations, while suited to cities, could dramatically alter the character of villages.
The Government's changes, announced by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, introduce a presumption in favour of homes within walking distance of stations, alongside minimum density expectations for such areas.
Ministers said the reforms would speed up delivery of quality housing near transport links, supporting the Government's target of 1.5 million new homes.
Cllr Husband said councils remained sceptical that the revised framework would preserve the plan-led system, warning that national policy could override local plans in some cases.
The County Councils Network said it would analyse the changes further and engage with ministers to raise its members' concerns.
