ELECTED mayors are set to gain powers to overrule councils on some planning decisions, sparking concerns over local democracy today.

The changes would affect proposals with more than 150 homes, more than 15,000 square metres of commercial space or buildings over 30 metres tall.

Mayors in Manchester, Liverpool, the West of England and the West Midlands and combined authorities will gain similar powers that Sir Sadiq Khan has to call-in planning decisions in London. 

They are also set to be able to grant up-front permission, which the government says will allow building to begin “without a developer having to apply.”

A consultation on how the powers will work is due to be published next week.

A spokesman for Momentum said: “The government should be putting power in the hands of communities and councils, not concentrating it in the hands of mayors.

“That means a new era of municipal socialism: empowering local government to build the homes, public services and communities people need.

“Residents deserve a real say in their future.”

Greens deputy leader Mothin Ali said that more powers for mayors to direct local councils was “more tinkering from the Labour government when local authorities continue to be forced by government into austerity budgets.”

The Liberal Democrats said that the proposals could create a two-tier system that discriminates against those areas that do not have an elected mayor.

But housing minister Matthew Pennycook said that the powers were an “essential part of the toolkit that mayors need to effectively deliver new homes and regeneration.”

He added that the government is “absolutely determined to stick with that ambition” to build 1.5 million homes in England by the end of the decade Labour promised in the 2024 general election.

The minister acknowledged that the target was “really stretching” but insisted nearly 180,000 children were in temporary accommodation and “any smaller target wouldn’t be commensurate with the scale of the challenge.”

Mr Burnham, who was mayor for Greater Manchester for nearly a decade, told the Sunday Times: “Challenge does need to be made to local decision-making and actually it cuts both ways.

“Sometimes it’s the other way round. It’s the local authority putting forward something that’s unacceptable in terms of the impact on the community. It’s a two-way street.”