AN MP claims reforms to the planning system which could mean developers are able to push ahead with applications without council approval “kicks sand” in the eyes of local communities.

Tom Blenkinsop also said Planning Minister Nick Boles was “basically acting like a bully” in his desire to speed up the planning process.

A package of measures, expected to be announced in April, is expected to include the removal of the need for developers to assess the environmental impact on some large housing estates, shopping centres and industrial estates on the countryside.

They will also be allowed to ignore local authorities if decisions on conditions attached to planning applications are delayed.

Mr Blenkinsop represents Middlesbrough South and east Cleveland for Labour and has repeatedly expressed concerns over housing developments on greenfield sites in his constituency.

He said: “What we are hearing from the Planning Minister is that he is basically acting like a bully and kicking sand in the eyes of local communities and local councils.

“These new proposals will allow developers to ride roughshod over local opinion.

“Put simply, any developer can now procrastinate over planning conditions and then use that as an excuse to blame the delay on a council and simply go ahead with their development - no matter how disliked it may be by local people.

“Locally we know that developers are still interested in greenfield sites on the edge of Guisborough, and this will simply intensify that interest to the stage where we will see further incursions into our local countryside.”

The MP also said the removal of the onus to develop an environmental assessment could see developments land to prone to flooding or the killing off of rare animals and plant species.

Mr Boles said the planned reforms would save the construction industry precious time and money. They come at a time when the Coalition Government is under pressure to meet its target of building hundreds of thousands of new homes.

A spokesman for the Department for Communities and Local Government said: “We are concerned that too many unreasonable conditions are imposed [on some planning applications], which can be up to a hundred different requirements.

“In turn, these can then prevent construction works starting on sites and houses being built, sometimes adding years to the planning process."