The Government-proposed relaxation of planning laws will undermine democratic accountability, marginalise the views of communities and allow developers to ignore the urgent need for more affordable housing, councillors agreed.

Members at a meeting of the full Council last night discussed motions brought by Councillor Adrian Naylor, leader of the Council’s Independents group, and Councillor Geoff Reid, of the Liberal Democrat group, which questioned the proposals. The motion said the proposals would waive requirements for affordable housing, relax the need for planning permission for home extensions and allow developers to bypass local authorities.

Members voted to carry Coun Naylor’s motion and resolved to oppose the Government’s proposals to extend development rights and remove affordable housing requirements.