Labour has been accused of creating “uncertainty and distraction” after finally launching a consultation on controversial plans designed to speed up the planning system. The Government has confirmed, months behind schedule, it will begin to assess proposals to remove three bodies from a list of organisations that planners are required to consult with before starting building.
The Gardens Trust, which is one of the bodies now left in limbo, has previously described the plans as “shameful” and warns its removal as a statutory consultee could put cherished green spaces across the country under threat from housebuilders, developers and highway construction. Chair John Watkins said the organisation will “robustly contest” the proposal, adding they “strongly disagree” the move would improve the planning process.
He told the Express: “Instead, precious parks and gardens, which have both grown and developed over many centuries, would be lost to communities both now and in future.
“It is also incredibly frustrating and disappointing that after intimating that the launch of this consultation was imminent back in February, the Government has delayed, delayed and delayed again, creating a huge amount of uncertainty and distraction.
“We are passionate about the role that the UK’s world-famous historic parks and gardens can play in supporting positive economic growth and healthy cohesive societies, and eager to continue to protect them.”
He added: “We are pleased to see that there is already a significant groundswell of opposition to this proposal across the political spectrum in Parliament and encourage supporters to further increase that opposition by responding to the consultation.”
It comes as Labour looks to pick up the pace on building homes amid a housing crisis. The Government is lagging behind its ambitious pledge of building 1.5 million homes in England by the end of this parliament. Latest figures show 231,300 new homes had been built between last year’s election and September this year.
The Gardens Trust is the UK’s only national charity dedicated to protecting and conserving the heritage of designed landscapes, and denies slowing down the planning system. It points out that in 2024-2025, it only made 69 objections to planning applications. This includes schemes that would have seen around 1,100 new homes built on or affecting sites it protects.
Many of the landscapes it works to protect are on the Register of Parks and Gardens of Special Historic Interest in England.
Chatsworth House Gardens, Derbyshire, and Highgate Cemetery, London, are among the more than 1,700 sites on the register.
The news of the consultation launch came as the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) announced housing developments near some stations will receive a “default yes” from planners.
Housing Secretary Steve Reed is set to unveil changes to planning rules that will make it easier to build on sites within 15 minutes’ walk of “well-connected” train and tram stations, including on green belt land.
It’s part of a series of measures expected to be announced by Mr Reed on Tuesday.
Among those is the proposal to remove The Gardens Trust, as well as Sport England and the Theatres Trust, as statutory consultees.
Mr Reed said this would “streamline” the process and “cut back delays”.
“I promised we’d get Britain building and that’s exactly what we are doing,” Mr Reed said.
A MHCLG spokesperson previously said the Government has “absolutely no intention for historic parks or listed spaces to be built on”.
The consultation is due to launch on Tuesday.
