Sheffield MP fears changes to planning law will pave way for "rabbit hutch" apartments

Sheffield South East MP Clive Betts has condemned controversial legislation to relax the planning system which would stop local people from objecting and prevent councils from refusing schemes.

Labour has secured a vote in the House of Commons after ministers rushed through the new rules ahead of the summer recess.

The legislation would remove the need for planning permission, so that some blocks of flats could have up to two storeys added for new homes, empty commercial buildings in high streets could be demolished and rebuilt as housing, and homes could be extended upwards by two storeys.

Labour says it will remove powers from communities and hand them to Whitehall-appointed boards of developers.

Mr Betts said: "It's known as permitted development and it's when you are allowed to do building work without planning permission.

"There has always been an element of it but usually it was for conservatories. Now though, developers will be allowed to build a two storey building, or convert a shop or offices into residential.

"The worry is that when planning permission is needed, the council takes a view about whether the scheme is suitable. With permitted development, the council has no right to say you can't build that."

Earlier this year, Mr Betts spoke in the Commons about some schemes in other parts of the country.

"There are cases nationally where offices have been converted into rabbit hutch flats and some are absolutely shocking.

"Some studio flats have been built without windows and there are flats which are 16sqm - which is the size of the Prime Minister's official car. They are that small.

"In one borough, an old office building on an industrial wasteland was converted into apartments with no public transport links or green space and families were just stuck there.

"The planning system is there to stop poor developments from happening and this takes all that control away."

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