Press Release: Conservatives Call For Residents Control Over Planning

Conservatives Call For Residents Control Over Planning

FOR IMMEDIATE USE

18th July 2025

---

Conservative councillors are calling on Havering Council to hand planning powers to residents, with a debate in the Town Hall taking place on Wednesday 23rd July. 

Councillor Taylor is proposing the creation of Neighbourhood Plans. A Neighbourhood Plan is a planning tool that allows local communities to help shape development in their area. Unlike the borough-wide Local Plan, which is prepared by the council and covers broad planning policies, a Neighbourhood Plan is created by local residents and groups, focusing on the specific needs and priorities of a particular neighbourhood.

Once approved by a local vote, a Neighbourhood Plan becomes part of the formal planning framework and must be considered in planning decisions. It provides a way for communities to have more direct input into how their area changes over time, within the wider planning policies set by the council. This can include proposals such as the types of housing built, site specific policies, and set specific rules for the look and feel of buildings. Neighbourhood Plans are also used to protect local high streets and independent shops, which larger plans often overlook.

Waltham Forest recently adopted Neighbourhood plans, and a number are now in place across the borough. Tower Hamlets and Lambeth also have examples of these plans in place, which secure support from residents through a referendum. 

Havering Council recently adopted a new Romford Masterplan, and will shortly be refreshing the Local Plan. But, Councillor Taylor warns, these do not hold enough legal power.

Councillor Taylor said

"The Romford Masterplan is a supplementary planning document, whilst it can guide development and design, it just doesn't carry enough legal weight. A Local Plan, like the one Havering is updated, is less democratic and a top-down document. Very often it is too broad and it just can't into the detail that we need. Only by implementing a Neighbourhood Plan can we give power to local communities, to shape development in their area.

It is great that Romford and Havering are getting updated plans, covering wider areas. But we need the fine details to, the current plans just don't go far enough.

Residents must be given say over whether a developer builds flats or houses, whether buildings blend in or stand out, and they must be given control over specific sites that will have an impact on their lives. 

For too long, planning has been in the hands of distant groups and people who do not live in the area.  It is my belief that residents should be deciding the shape of their communities. This is the only way for us to protect our heritage. 

I am calling on Havering Council to commit to creating Neighbourhood Plans. If Havering's Councillors believe in handing power to our residents, they will vote to do this on Wednesday". 

END

____________

Contact:

David Taylor

Phone: 07878 132 549

Email: hello@davidtaylor.london