Conservative shadow ministers were this week accused of blocking Britain’s economic recovery by encouraging councils to delay major developments until after the general election.
Senior Labour Party figures, including housing minister, John Healey, accused shadow local government minister, Caroline Spelman, of undermining signs of an economic revival in the commercial and property markets.
It followed a leaked letter sent by Ms Spelman to Conservative councils, encouraging authorities to delay unpopular developments until beyond the Conservatives’ possible election victory next year.
In the letter, Ms Spelman states a Conservative Government would abolish Labour’s regional spatial strategies and regional planning bodies, and ‘revoke…in whole or in part’ national and regional building targets, which are being used to reinvigorate the housing sector.
She also reveals the Conservatives would cancel Labour’s plan to move regional housing and planning powers to regional development agencies and leaders’ boards. Some authorities have objected to regional planning strategies because, critics claim, they distort local choice over developments. ‘We would advise councils not to rush ahead with implementing the controversial elements of regional spatial strategies,’ Ms Spelman’s letter states.
She promises a rethink of local housing and development plans as part of an early local government White Paper, should the Conservatives win the election.
Mr Healey said: ‘The Tories are getting ahead of themselves, taking the election for granted and displaying incredible arrogance while, at the same time, illustrating they have no plausible policy to secure the investment and new homes the country needs.
‘While the Government backs the construction industry with £1bn to kick-start stalled house building, the Tories are inciting councils to cut the ground from under builders. ‘Such crude threats and uncertainty will be about as welcome as a hole in the head.’
A Conservative Party spokesman said Ms Spelman was ‘only encouraging councils to delay unpopular local programmes’.
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