Is the planning system corrupt?

windmill the developer will go to the council part way through and say it’s not a viable site if they build affordable, the LA, desperate for houses to fulfil government quotas lets them go ahead.

Having wasted time at a few Planning Committee meetings, I was told by my former local councillor that it is often decided how each will vote (usually along party lines) before the meeting.

My particular beef is with developers who blithely promise to incorporate a percentage of affordable homes into their plans in order to persuade a local authority to rubber stamp planning permission, and then - lo and behold - when the development is completed there isn't a single affordable property to be seen!
This happened recently when an extension of 200+ houses was added to our estate. Also promised were cycle lanes and an extension to the public transport system. Has any of this happened? No. Most of the houses were sold off plan and none of them were “affordable”. The other concern is that builders still appear to be building on lands which are flood plains. This is happening where my son and also a friend of mine live in York and there are public concerns about where all that water is going to be drained off to. Appeals to the council fall on deaf ears.

It seems to be accepted practice nowadays for a developer or individual to bulldoze ahead with their plans, regardless, and then apply for retrospective planning permission. A very arrogant attitude towards the rules.

My particular beef is with developers who blithely promise to incorporate a percentage of affordable homes into their plans in order to persuade a local authority to rubber stamp planning permission, and then - lo and behold - when the development is completed there isn't a single affordable property to be seen!

Because it costs local authorities so much to appeal decisions and most of them are broke, developers can afford to chance it and go to appeal.