Richmond to defy David Cameron move to relax planning rules

A Tory council wants to defy David Cameron’s “foolish and unnecessary” move to allow home extensions to be built without planning permission.

The Government announced plans to relax planning rules this month to stimulate the economy by encouraging home improvements.

But Richmond council officials have hit out at the proposals and are now looking into ways to block them. They believe that the “character of the borough” could be ruined by “cowboy builders”.

Under the current rules single-storey rear extensions can be constructed without planning permission as long as they do not extend beyond the rear wall of the original house by a set distance.

But those limits will be doubled, meaning that many extensions that require permission could go ahead immediately. A government spokesman said: “If there are genuine local concerns, councils can withdraw permitted development rights locally using existing powers.”