Figures obtained by the Telegraph 25/03/13) show that since the National Planning Policy Framework paper was published last March, the number of new homes winning planning permission has risen by a quarter in England and fallen in Scotland and Wales, where the changes do not apply. The Planning Inspectorate is warning privately of a “shock” to the system from the reforms that come into force at midnight on Tuesday, and is taking on extra staff to deal with an expected surge in appeals this summer. The Telegraph reports that developers are also exploiting a loophole in the new framework which will force councils to make more greenfield sites available for building. Clive Betts MP, chairman of the Communities and Local Government committee, said this was forcing councils to “identify far more greenfield sites for development than the local community wants. That is happening all around the country”. He added: “The danger is that we end up leaving brownfield sites empty where people would welcome development and build on greenfield sites where people would be unhappy about it.” Neil Sinden, policy director at the Campaign to Protect Rural England, said the changes were likely to lead to “an upsurge in planning permissions being granted, an increasing proportion of which were likely to have damaging environmental impact”.

Bill Winlow comments: Developers do not like brownfield sites because they are more expensive to develop, but these are the very places that should be developed  first.  Once greenfiled sites have been developed they can never be restored and local councils need to be making greater efforts to ensure that brownfield sites are developed for houising wherever possible.