Changes to the planning system in England have locals and environmental groups up in arms.
They fear that changes to the rules governing planning decisions will take power away from local voices and give it to large developers.
"The fight against the proposed planning rules comes from groups at the heart of middle England and is shaping up to become a major political battleground for David Cameron. Many of the groups were part of the coalition that forced the government into a U-turn on selling off English forests this year.
According to the groups, who are working individually and not as a coalition, the most radical reforms of the planning system in 50 years will allow developers to build what they like where they like in the 66% of England that is not formally protected by national park or other conservation status."
FULL STORY: Planning reform will lead to development 'free-for-all'

The Slow Death of Ride Sharing
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Cool Walkability Planning
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Illinois Legislators Pass Controversial I-55 Road Expansion Legislation
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How San Diego Camping Ban Could Impact Neighborhoods
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Expanding Access to Golf in South Los Angeles
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Opinion: Failed Housing Bills Could Signal California-Style Housing Crisis in Texas
Legislators in a state that so often touts its policies as the opposite of California’s defeated several bills that would have made housing construction easier, leading to concerns that a constricted housing market may exacerbate the housing crisis.
Wichita-Sedgwick County Metropolitan Area Planning Department
City of Bangor
Park City Municipal Corporation
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
Chaddick Institute at DePaul University
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
Montrose County
Wichita-Sedgwick County Metropolitan Area Planning Department
City of Lomita
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.