Deputy prime minister Angela Rayner's potential changes to the planning system would be an 'affront to democracy', a Cheshire East councillor said.

The proposed changes, if they were to go ahead, would allow council planning officers to rubber stamp development proposals without seeking permission from council committees, provided the schemes complied with local plans and national regulations.

Knutsford councillor Stewart Gardiner (Con), who is vice chair of the strategic planning board, said deputy prime minister Angela Rayner planned to 'significantly diminish the powers of planning committees and boards in the development management process'.

And he called on council leader Nick Mannion (Lab) and deputy leader Michael Gorman (Ind) to use their influence and contacts at the LGA and with local MPs, to fight the proposals.

"Should these changes be adopted, the requirements for planning applications to be determined by councillors will only occur in very exceptional circumstances," Cllr Gardiner told the meeting of the full council.

Knutsford councillor Stewart Gardiner (Pictured) is calling on council leader and deputy leader to use their influence and contacts to fight the proposals. (Photo: Cheshire East Council)

"I am sure that those of us who sit on planning boards will all recall occasions where we have made a significant difference to the outcome of an application and do not see ourselves as frustrating the process."

He added: "If Ms Rayner cannot be persuaded to change her mind, these changes will withdraw powers given to councillors some 77 years ago, and would represent nothing short of an affront to democracy and the rights of local members to make some of the decisions they were elected to take."

Speaking to the Local Democracy Reporting Service this week, Cllr Gardiner, who has a background in planning, said there had been many occasions where applications had come before Cheshire East's planning committees which were unacceptable in their original form but had later been approved after input from committee members at meetings.

He said if councillors were to have no input on the applications relating to design and other matters 'are we just supposed to accept boxes?'

The government has vowed to reform planning rules following its pledge to build 1.5 million new homes by 2029.