Planning legislation overhaul to help homeowners

Ruth Kelly, the communities secretary, is to outline new planning rules which will aim to cut costs for homeowners and tackle climate change.

She is expected to outline new proposals to parliament which would scrap the need to secure planning permission for minor home improvements so that people can get micro generators fitted without going through months of bureaucracy.

The white paper will also spell good news for the environment because it will allow wind farms and nuclear power stations to be approved more quickly, thus securing future energy supplies without the need for fossil fuels.

However environmental campaign group Friends of the Earth says that easing on planning restrictions gives the green light to developments like airway extensions which increase carbon emissions.

"This is policy making at its worse - it will destroy local communities and exacerbate climate change," said Hugh Ellis, a planning adviser from the charity.


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