Planning powers: Prime Minister would do well to avoid starting fights with good people

Anyone surprised that Prime Minister Andy Burnham plans to hand the power to regional mayors that will help them to push on with planning applications and subsequent on-the-ground development cannot have been paying attention.

Since coming to power, Mr Burnham has made it clear that he believes the fortunes of the country and the prospects of its people are dependent upon growth: good growth, he calls it, in every postcode.

The shift of powers, though, will inevitably set mayors up for conflict with councils, should the building agenda be thwarted by the concerns voiced in town halls up and down the country.

It should be remembered, though, that the people voicing their concerns in said town halls are the grassroots representatives of people living and working in those local communities. Building projects are rarely denied whimsically; more often as a result of those who know the area better than anyone presenting evidence and rationale that means some projects amount to bad ideas.

Branding these people nimbys, as Mr Burnham has, is not helpful. Not every objection to the next housing estate, tower block, factory or solar farm is from a busy-body representing the not in my back yard club. Mr Burnham and his government would do well to avoid putting up the hackles of people who more often than not merely want the best for where they live when it comes to planning and development, and that means working in a collegiate, not confrontational way.

Only by working alongside communities, communicating honestly and quickly can things get done for the good of community and country.