All developments of more than 150 homes on greenfield sites must in future be referred to John Prescott before local authorities can give them planning permissions.
The latest PPG3 planning guidance means the deputy prime minister can stop housing projects that have not taken account of new rules that increase the density of developments and favour the use of brownfield land.
The new planning rules come into effect in two weeks and mean that all major developments will be looked at whether or not they are controversial locally. Poorly designed developments can be refused planning permission under the new rules for the first time.
The DETR promised the planning process would be accelerated.
The Daily Telegraph 05/10/00 page 1, page 5
The Independent 05/10/00 page 19
Financial Times 05/10/00 page 8
