Bob Neill, the shadow planning minister, has signalled that there would be a 鈥減resumption in favour of development鈥� on sites that otherwise met planning policy under the Tories

He told a conference on social housing at law firm Stephenson Hardwood that planning applications would be 鈥渟wifter鈥� under a Conservative government. 鈥淒evelopers should know if they produce development that is sustainable and consistent with a local plan and national planning policy, then it should go through,鈥� he said.

But Richard Tilley, planning director at property consultant CGMS, said: 鈥淭he Tories鈥� new localism agenda has still not addressed the key role that the planning system undertakes in balancing local environmental concerns with national and regional needs for development.鈥�

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