Ministers look at involvement in determining major schemes

Ministers are setting out in detail how ministerial "call-in" powers would apply for major schemes which would otherwise be determined by the Government’s proposed Infrastructure Planning Commission.

That possibility has surfaced as the administration explores further modifications to the Planning Bill designed to meet concerns expressed by its own backbench MPs and the Opposition over ministerial and Parliamentary involvement in the new regime. This involves the yet-to-be established commission and the preparation of a suite of National Policy Statements (NPS).

A spokesman for Communities and Local Government stressed that the Government believed it could "address the issues that have been raised without compromising our overall proposals". The Bill is due to be back in Parliament later this month (probably 23 June) for final Commons scrutiny before going to the Lords.

Ministers have already tabled a number of amendments to the legislation designed to strengthen the process. Under these moves Parliament would be given a key scrutiny role. It would be consulted on draft NPSs, ministers would publish a detailed response to issues before finalising the policy and the chair of the IPC would be open to pre-announcement scrutiny by MPs.

In addition the Bill is being amended to ensure that when a NPS causes blight to local residents they will be entitled to compensation. Ministers have also signalled that the Compulsory Purchase provisions in the legislation will be improved to ensure that developers can purchase the rights they need without requiring ownership of the whole site. This move should speed up development and reduce the costs involved in land assembly.

In a related but separate development Communities and Local Government has confirmed that subject to Parliament's decisions on the Bill, the Government expects to consult on the draft Community Infrastructure Levy regulations during autumn 2008 and finalise them during spring 2009.

Roger Milne

12 June 2008