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UK planning law undermined

Government powers to decide planning permission cases are likely to be revoked, after a high court ruling that the current planning system is incompatible with the Human Rights Convention.

As things stand, the environment secretary has the ultimate right to decide any planning application, but the High Court decided that this is incompatible with European legislation. By it's very nature, anyone from within government could have a vested interest in the outcome of a planning application, a fact that, "prevented protestors and developers having their objections heard by an independent and impartial tribunal."

A spokesman for the environment secretary, John Prescott, said: "The potential implications of the judgment go beyond the planning system. We are seeking leave to appeal to the House of Lords."