| | Press Release: Planning world unites to inject democracy into bill |
 | | The Bill envisages a two-tier structure with planning responsibility held by local (district or unitary) councils, and a wider strategic planning role resting with, as yet unelected, regional assemblies. |
 | | The LGA supports the government’s stated intention to create a clearer national planning framework and the ambition for greater community engagement, but is concerned about the loss of democratic accountability both over some planning application decisions and particularly over the reduction in the role of county councils. |
 | | Instead, we consider that the introduction of action plans, as part of the LDF document, would be a better mechanism for encouraging and effectively managing the growth and high quality development of businesses. |
| www.lga.gov.uk /PressRelease.asp?lsection=0&ccat=-1&id=SXA920-A7813F15 (848 words) |