Rebels Gain Planning Bill Concessions

The government has narrowly escaped a backbench rebellion over plans to speed up the planning process for big projects such as airports and nuclear power stations.A bid to ensure ministers get the final say on decisions by an independent body was rejected by 303 votes to 260.More than 60 Labour MPs had signed a Commons motion warning that the new planning quango would be undemocratic, however in the final vote only 17 Labour MPs defied the government.

Communities Secretary Hazel Blears argued that big projects which could boost the economy and Britain's energy security were being "clogged up" in "antiquated" planning processes. She said that"Our current system takes too long. It's immensely costly. It's almost impenetrable in very many cases to members of the public. There's a lack of transparency and a lack of clarity..The system isn't working, needs to be brought up to date and made fit for the modern world we are living in."

In a bid to win over rebels, she said there would be a review of the commission after two years, with ministers intervening if there were problems.The government would have to pre-approve specific sites for new nuclear power stations and airports before the planning commission could grant permission for construction in England and Wales.

The rebels have also secured a promise of greater oversight by Commons select committees of the work of the Infrastructure Planning Commission.

Shadow planning minister Jacqui Lait said the concessions did not amount to "a row of beans". She said ministers were quite capable of making decisions on major projects adding: "We do not need an unelected and unaccountable quango to do it for us."