RADICAL reforms to the planning system announced by the government as part of its “build, build, build” agenda will allow developers to “ride roughshod” over communities, Labour councillors in Bolton have warned.

The new regulations will give greater freedom for buildings and land in town centres to change use without needing planning permission and create new homes from the regeneration of vacant and redundant buildings.

Under the new rules, existing commercial properties, including newly vacant shops, can be converted into residential housing more easily, in a move to kick start the construction industry and speed up rebuilding.

These changes to planning law, which are set to come into effect by September, will also allow builders to demolish and rebuild vacant and redundant residential and commercial buildings if they are rebuilt as homes.

But Labour councillors say the Conservative government’s plan to streamline the planning system means it would bypass local councils like Bolton.

Housing and planning spokesman Richard Silvester said: “It’s a ridiculous notion that planning regulations are a barrier to housebuilding.

“The fact is that nine in 10 planning applications are approved.

“In addition, there is planning permission for more than a million homes, nationally, that have not been built.

“Often this is because of associated land de-contamination issues.”

Labour is backing the calls from the Campaign to Protect Rural England, the Town and Country Planning Association and the Institute of Historic Building Conservation to keep decision-making in planning local.

Cllr Silvester added: “Under the Conservative proposals, the council could be by-passed with a new streamlined system and a reduced consultation period with neighbours being missed out completely.

“Instead of removing the requirement for accountable permission, and attacking local democracy, the government should instead provide new de-contamination funding to help developers build on brown field land to help save our green spaces.”

But Cllr John Walsh, chairman of Bolton’s planning committee, has accused Labour of “once again” jumping on a bandwagon.

He said: “The proposals are largely designed for issues around London and the South East where, clearly, housebuilding demand is much greater.

“Green belt protection must stay and I don’t see anything suggesting this will undermine that.

“This will take away some of the delays, but I want to make sure we will still have a robust system of control.

“I certainly don’t want to see a diminution of the role of Bolton as a local planning authority.”