MPs attack Chancellor's planning vision

Gordon Brown's plans for this month's big government spending package were badly dented today by a blistering Commons report attacking one of his flagship proposals.

A cross-party committee of MPs says moves to streamline planning laws are a recipe for chaos and delay - and threaten a surge of direct action protest.

The Chancellor is relying on the scheme to cut through much of the existing planning procedures to open the way for a massive increase in homes and new road and rail projects in the South-East. He also hinted last week that he would like to push ahead with plans for a new London airport.

Mr Brown has stressed the Comprehensive Spending Review expected the week after next will be about more than the money given to Whitehall departments.

The package is also designed to spur a major increase in productivity, with the South-East as the engine of revival. Today's report from the Labour-dominated transport, local government and the regions committee says the planning changes are unworkable and undemocratic. In a reference to past protests, it says they are "in danger of spawning a new generation of Swampies".

The MPs savage the proposals to take away planning powers from county councils. It says they enshrine "a vital right" for local people to be told about planned developments and challenge them in a public inquiry. The report also objects to a proposal to give Parliament the right to decide in principle on major projects with objectors allowed to challenge only the details in a public inquiry.