Andy Burnham to grant mayors new powers to overrule local councils on large-scale planning decisions
The administration announced that mayors across England will receive new powers to "call in" and overrule local councils on major planning decisions. Andy Burnham, the Prime Minister, will allow mayors to take control of proposals involving more than 150 homes, commercial spaces exceeding 15,000 square metres, or buildings over 30 metres tall. These powers are intended to the unblock strategic growth sites and help the government meet its target of building 1.5 million homes by the end of the decade. While the administration announced these powers as a way to streamline development, critics from the Conservative and Liberal Democrat parties have expressed concern. The Conservatives questioned whether it was right for councils to lose the ability to make decisions in their own communities. Liberal Democrat spokesperson Gideon Amos argued that taking powers away from local councils is a direct attack on local people. Conversely, the administration announced that mayors will also gain a greater say in how national housing funding is spent in their areas, with the government directing national agency Homes England to focus on local priorities.