This week David Cameron pledged that a Conservative government will protect Surrey’s greenbelt, through plans to radically strengthen local democracy over planning policy.

From the outset of the ‘open primary’ campaign, I made clear my commitment to preserving our greenbelt for future generations – in Elmbridge, Surrey and the rest of Britain. I am delighted that this will now form a major plank of our policy at the next election.

The Party’s Green Paper (click here for the full report), includes proposals to:
- Scrap the South East Plan and Regional Planning Bodies in the first year of a Conservative government.
- Remove the ability of unaccountable planning inspectors to amend local planning policy.
- Curtail the ability of planning inspectors to trump the decisions of elected councils on planning applications.
- Reverse the way planning policy is created – so that it is bottom-up, not top-down – putting local communities and councils in the driving seat.
- Encourage local provision of affordable housing - more carrot, less stick – by giving the council the financial incentive of 125% of the council tax raised per unit of housing built for six years.
- Put any national planning policy framework to a vote in the House of Commons, so your elected MP gets a proper say.
- Maintain Green Belt protection to ‘protect the character of our country’s landscape, stop unsustainable urban sprawl and preserve wildlife.’
- Strengthen powers to remove illegal traveller sites and other unlawful developments.