An item in The Guardian reports that Conservative MPs are calling on the housing secretary, Michael Gove, to hand greater decision making powers over new housing to local people in an attempt to boost acceptance of new developments.  The plan would strip councils of decision-making powers over some developments and incentivise residents instead to approve new schemes.

The proposal is based on the idea that local residents will support developments if they see gains for their community. This is a laudable aim but one which will be pitted against the NIMBY (not in my back yard) attitude in many areas where new developments are badly needed.