Stripping local planning authorities of decision-making on fracking in their area would be “hugely harmful” to local democracy, MPs have warned.
The Government has proposed a move to deal with planning applications for fracking at a national level, under the nationally significant infrastructure projects regime, as part of efforts to get the industry up and running.
But moving decisions on fracking planning applications to a national level is likely to exacerbate mistrust between communities and the industry, the parliamentary Housing, Communities and Local Government Committee said.
