LibDem Manifesto (Planning Daily Blog)

The Liberal Democrat Manifesto 2010 says the party believes in "strong communities, where local people can come together to meet local needs, enjoy a pleasant local environment, and feel free from the threat of crime."

On planning policy the document says the party would require a local competition test for all planning applications for new retail developments.

It would also:

- abolish the Infrastructure Planning Commission and "return decision-making, including housing targets, to local people";

- create a new designation – similar to Site of Special Scientific Interest status – to protect green areas of particular importance or value to the community and would aim to double the UK’s woodland cover by 2050.

- stop ‘garden grabbing’ by defining gardens as greenfield sites in planning law so that they cannot be built over so easily.

- stop major new housing developments in flood risk areas;

- introduce landscape-scale planning policies with a specific remit to restore water channels, rivers and wetlands and reduce flood risk by properly utilising the natural capacity of the landscape to retain water;

- give local authorities the power to set higher council tax rates for second homes and the option to require specific planning permission for new second homes, in areas where the number of such homes is threatening the viability of a community.

- close loopholes that allow playing fields to be sold or built upon without going through the normal planning procedures.

On housing the party says it would bring 250,000 empty homes back into use as well as providing more affordable homes.

The party says it would switch traffic from road to rail by investing in local rail improvements, such as opening closed rail lines and adding extra tracks and would cancel plans for a third runway at Heathrow and other airport expansion in the South East.

It would also set up an Infrastructure Bank to direct private finance to projects such as new rail services and green energy.