The Government needs to stick to its guns and carry out its intended reforms to the planning system, says the Federation of Master Builders (FMB) in its response to the Government’s consultation on the draft National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF).

Brian Berry, Director of External Affairs at the FMB, said: "The Government's planning reform proposals strike the right balance between economic growth and environmental protection. The presumption in favour of sustainable development is certainly needed if Britain is to have the homes and infrastructure that it requires. It has been unfortunate that the planning proposals have been subject to scaremongering and misinformation which has not been helpful."

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"Environmental protection is essential to everyone’s quality of life, but it must also be accepted that jobs and housing are too, and that the planning system has to deliver the conditions to support all three. We urge the Government not to give into pressure from the anti-development lobby and to continue its reforms of the planning system."

Mr Berry concluded: "Planning may not be the main factor holding back house building at the moment but it certainly was in the decade leading up to the credit crunch and it will be again when credit flows return to normal unless we act now to get reforms in place. More detail is still required to understand how the balance between development and environmental protection will work in practice and this will require constructive input from all sides."

(CD)