Planning shake-up criticised by MPs

Heathrow was the longest ever planning inquiry

A rising tide of anger and eco-warrior-style direct action will be prompted by proposals to sideline local people from large scale planning decisions, a Labour MP has warned.

The government plans to speed up decisions such as Heathrow Terminal Five by having some large scale developments decided by MPs rather than public inquiries.

Byers wanted to give residents a bigger say

But Andrew Bennett, joint chairman of the Commons transport, local government select committee, was scathing of the plans.

Mr Bennett said: "If you try and go ahead with major schemes without the proper public discussion then you may get one or two people taking direct action."

He was speaking after his influential cross-party committee published a report on Wednesday deeply sceptical of the plans.

'Plans favour business'

The Heathrow terminal five plans were held up for seven years before it was finally given the go-ahead.

The Confederation of British Industry estimates that the UK loses £600m a year from planning delays.

The reforms would leave Parliament to decide in principle on such projects, with public inquiries dealing only with detailed concerns.

The Commons committee instead concludes there would be little time saved while the changes could dent public confidence.

The MPs say the plans favour businesses at the expense of the environment.

Bureaucracy

The committee also pours scorn on the government's belief that the current planning system inhibits economic growth.

Former Transport, Local Government and Regions Secretary Stephen Byers described the current system a "banquet for barristers" when he unveiled the reform plans last year.

You don't want to undermine your own ministers

Andrew Bennett on why free votes might not be free

Mr Byers wanted the bureaucracy stripped away to make the process "far more open and transparent" to local people.

The government wants MPs to take part in free votes on controversial projects but there are fears that many will bow to pressure from the whips and steamroller through the go-ahead for new schemes, despite local protests.

Mr Bennett said free votes were always "a complex business" in the House of Commons and that MPs were under pressure to support their party if it was in power.

"You don't want to undermine your own ministers, because sooner or later there is going to be a general election and you want those ministers coming to give you support, particularly if you are in a marginal seat," he said.