The government’s much-heralded legislation to reform the planning system will be further delayed, following an unprecedented decision to send the Planning Bill back to committee.
Ministers will announce this afternoon that a further six-to-seven weeks of committee time during September and October will be devoted to the Bill.
The Bill was waiting for its final reading in the Commons before heading to the Lords.
Although the further delay will frustrate many, opposition MPs and industry bodies including the RICS are pleased that there will be a chance to examine the detail of the Bill.
After the previous committee stage, 62 clauses and four schedules had not been discussed out of a total of 92 clauses and six schedules.
Among the issues that were not discussed were the controversial scrapping of outline planning consents, and the role and powers of Urban Development Corporations, which will be used in the Thames Gateway project.
MPs will also be able to discuss the Law Commission’s recommendations on compulsory purchase orders, which experts say will greatly improve legislation.
It is understood that the government chose to allow further debate after warnings that the House of Lords would “shred” the legislation if it came to them without further scrutiny.
The government’s decision, a first in parliamentary history, only became feasible because of changes to parliamentary procedure which allow Bills to be carried forward from session to session, instead of being dropped as the Homes Bill was in 2001.
Speaking after an Enterprise Forum meeting in London, shadow local government & the regions secretary Eric Pickles MP said: “The treatment of the Planning & Compulsory Purchase Bill is symbolic of the whole planning policy.
“The government has failed to take decisive action.
“It is through its own inability that the present Bill is in such a mess and it will make parliamentary history by crossing two parliamentary sessions.”
References: EGi News 05/06/03
