Civic Voice called the MPs' report "a welcome dose of much needed common sense which would bring sensible reforms to planning policy" and gave a particular welcome to its support for brownfield and town-centre-first.
The national organisation of community bodies said there had been widespread concern about the planning reforms which would have biased decisions and put everyday England at risk. It said the Government should heed the Committee's recommendations and take the heat out of the controversy.
Civic Voice welcomed:-
- the conclusion that planning is not constraining economic development;
- rejection of the "default yes" and its replacement with plan-led sustainable development;
- new development being guided by the principles of brownfield-first and town-centre-first;
- new provisions for communities to secure absolute protection of town centres from out-of-town development.
"The decisions the Government makes over the next two months will decide the future of planning and development in England for a generation," said director Tony Burton. "We urge all those who share our concern to join our Campaign for Fair Planning."
