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4 September 2011
Last updated at 17:00 ET
Chancellor George Osborne has defended the government's controversial plans to change the planning system in England.
In a joint Financial Times article with Communities Secretary Eric Pickles, he writes: "No-one should underestimate our determination to win this battle."
Mr Osborne and Mr Pickles say reform is "key to our economic recovery".
Ministers want to simplify rules to boost house-building and business. Critics say developers may become too powerful and urban sprawl could result.
Mr Osborne and Mr Pickles insist protections for the green belt, National Parks and Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty will remain.
A consultation is under way on the Draft National Planning Policy Framework, which streamlines policy of more than 1,000 pages to just 52 and features a presumption in favour of "sustainable development".
'Increasingly inaccessible' Continue reading the main story “Start Quote
The article says "answers to proposals for responsible, careful growth should be 'yes' unless there are strong reasons to the contrary".
The ministers argue that sticking with the current planning system "puts at risk young people's future prosperity and quality of life".
"No-one should underestimate our determination to win this battle. We will fight for jobs, prosperity and the right protection for our countryside," they say.
"Reforming a slow and inefficient planning system will be good news for the small business looking to expand; for the young family hoping for more affordable house prices; and for the community wanting to decide on their own future.
"This is our opportunity to unlock the new investment and new jobs the country needs. We cannot afford to miss it."
The Department for Communities and Local Government has said it intends to transform a system whose "volume and complexity have made planning increasingly inaccessible to all but specialists".
But the National Trust objects to the plans, saying they "failed to protect the everyday places that local communities love".
The Campaign to Protect Rural England has said the government needs "to listen and make further improvements or the consequences for the English countryside and the character of our towns and villages will be grave".
On Saturday, planning minister Greg Clark said he had agreed to talk to opponents of the proposals to address "particular aspects" which were unclear.
Labour's Jack Dromey welcomed the government's decision to talk to campaign groups.
But he added: "Labour is in favour of sustainable development - but what the Tory-led government are offering is a downgrading of the rules which protect our natural environment."
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In a joint Financial Times article with Communities Secretary Eric Pickles, he writes: "No-one should underestimate our determination to win this battle."
Mr Osborne and Mr Pickles say reform is "key to our economic recovery".
Ministers want to simplify rules to boost house-building and business. Critics say developers may become too powerful and urban sprawl could result.
Mr Osborne and Mr Pickles insist protections for the green belt, National Parks and Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty will remain.
A consultation is under way on the Draft National Planning Policy Framework, which streamlines policy of more than 1,000 pages to just 52 and features a presumption in favour of "sustainable development".
'Increasingly inaccessible' Continue reading the main story “Start Quote
This is our opportunity to unlock the new investment and new jobs the country needs”
End Quote
Chancellor George Osborne
The article says "answers to proposals for responsible, careful growth should be 'yes' unless there are strong reasons to the contrary".
The ministers argue that sticking with the current planning system "puts at risk young people's future prosperity and quality of life".
"No-one should underestimate our determination to win this battle. We will fight for jobs, prosperity and the right protection for our countryside," they say.
"Reforming a slow and inefficient planning system will be good news for the small business looking to expand; for the young family hoping for more affordable house prices; and for the community wanting to decide on their own future.
"This is our opportunity to unlock the new investment and new jobs the country needs. We cannot afford to miss it."
The Department for Communities and Local Government has said it intends to transform a system whose "volume and complexity have made planning increasingly inaccessible to all but specialists".
But the National Trust objects to the plans, saying they "failed to protect the everyday places that local communities love".
The Campaign to Protect Rural England has said the government needs "to listen and make further improvements or the consequences for the English countryside and the character of our towns and villages will be grave".
On Saturday, planning minister Greg Clark said he had agreed to talk to opponents of the proposals to address "particular aspects" which were unclear.
Labour's Jack Dromey welcomed the government's decision to talk to campaign groups.
But he added: "Labour is in favour of sustainable development - but what the Tory-led government are offering is a downgrading of the rules which protect our natural environment."
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