The leader of Reform UK in Dudley, Councillor Marco Longhi, has sharply criticised upcoming government planning reforms, describing them as a major blow to local councillors' ability to represent their communities. The new rules, which will become mandatory from 31 October, will result in nearly all planning applications being decided by professional planning officers rather than elected councillors.
Under the revised regulations, planning committees will have limited powers and only in exceptional cases, with approval required from senior planning officers. Furthermore, councillors will no longer have the authority to ‘call in’ applications for committee discussion, effectively curtailing their direct involvement.
Cllr Longhi expressed deep concern over the loss of democratic influence, stating, “The government has pulled a fast one here; this is one of the biggest castrations of councillors in local government being able to represent residents. If a resident of Dudley, or anywhere in the country, cares about what’s happening in their neighbourhood from a planning perspective, they will literally have no say whatsoever.”
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According to a report by Michael Brereton, Dudley’s director of development and regulation, 99 per cent of planning decisions are already made by officers. The report emphasises that the reforms aim to provide greater clarity and consistency, allowing councillors to focus on key proposals while minor or technical decisions are handled by professionals. It also highlights that the new arrangements are intended to support elected members in their democratic roles while reducing legal challenges and complaints.
Among the types of applications to be decided solely by officers are change of use cases, including those related to houses of multiple occupation (HMOs). In response, Cllr Longhi has advocated for tougher local measures to manage HMO proliferation in Dudley. At an extraordinary council meeting, he proposed restrictions such as limiting the number of HMOs, preventing two from standing adjacent to each other, and stopping HMOs from surrounding a residential home. His motion was unanimously approved, intending to incorporate these measures into the forthcoming Dudley Local Plan to guide officers' decisions.
Cllr Longhi acknowledged the legitimate role of HMOs near universities and in metropolitan areas to accommodate students, professionals, and healthcare workers. However, he raised concerns over HMOs occupied by vulnerable groups, including homeless people and asylum seekers, which he linked to increased levels of antisocial behaviour and crime. He clarified that the debate is not about who resides in HMOs but rather where they should be located.
Looking ahead, Cllr Longhi expressed support for establishing a presumption against HMOs in Dudley, similar to the long-standing protection of greenbelt land from development.
Residents interested in local planning applications, traffic changes, and licensing matters can access comprehensive information via the Public Notices Portal.