Words by Charlotte Gay

Changes to England’s planning system is to be unveiled later today with the intention of making local people more involved in the process.

Ministers are publishing the revival after rows from conservation groups over last year’s draft plans.

They say that the changes mean local people will be more involved in issues relevant to them.

The draft version of the new guidelines, to be released today, has reduced a 1300 page document to 52 pages, and the final booklet will have only 50.

The hope is to simplify a complex system, but critics believe the government has been too vague about what amounts to ‘sustainable development’ and for stating in draft plans that development proposals default answer will be yes unless it compromised key sustainable development principle.