The Planning Bill was amended last week to require the Infrastructure Planning Commission to ‘have regard’ to local authorities’ views on major infrastructure projects. Communities secretary, Hazel Blears, accepted a backbench amendment that would invite local authorities to provide the IPC with ‘local impact reports’ as the Bill cleared its final hurdle in the Commons. She also committed to reviewing the new system after two years. But the Conservatives pledged to ‘review the IPC out of existence’ if they come to power at the next election