Burnham says measure will ‘cut both ways’ with regional leaders able to reject unsuitable schemes as well as overriding local refusals
Mayors are set to be given call-in powers over major planning decisions.
Proposals set to be published this week will see regional mayors across England given the same powers as those currently held by Sadiq Khan in London.
The powers will apply for schemes with more than 150 homes, more than 15,000 square metres of commercial space, or any building over 30 metres or taller (roughly ten storeys).
Mayors will also be able to grant up front permission for development.
While the measure is intended to boost development, speaking to the Sunday Times at the weekend, prime minister Andy Burnham said the policy “cuts both ways” and is “not all about Nimbyism”.
“Sometimes it’s the other way round. It’s a local authority putting forward something that’s unacceptable in terms of the impact on the community,” he said. “So it’s a two-way street.”
Decisions will have to follow local and national planning policy and applicants will keep the right to appeal, with the secretary of state retaining the power to intervene themselves.
Regional mayors outside London are also set to get a greater say on how national housing funding is spent in their areas, as well as the ability to charge a levy on development to fund major infrastructure - the policy that helped build the Elizabeth line.
According to The Times, Burnham is looking to release public land belonging to Network Rail, the Environment Agency, the NHS and prisons for building.
The newspaper reported that the PM hopes to have the rules in place by the end of the year through the English Devolution Act, which would avoid the need to pass new legislation.
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