Jeremy has warned that the recommendations in Kate Barker’s Review of Land Use Planning could adversely affect local towns and villages, as overdevelopment and ‘garden-grabbing’ would be exacerbated by extending the powers of unelected regional assemblies and weakening the protection of the Green Belt.Jeremy’s concerns are echoed by Shadow Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, Caroline Spelman, who tabled an Early Day Motion last week criticising the outcome of The Treasury and Department for Communities and Local Government-commissioned report.Jeremy added his signature to the motion, which called for MPs to express their concerns over the report’s recommendations, to reject an extension of powers for regional assemblies and to highlight the effects that out-of-town planning could have on urban regeneration and the vitality of small shops and local high streets.Warning how the recommendations of the Barker Review could impact on South West Surrey, Jeremy said: “Planning and land use decisions needed to be made at a local authority level by people who understand the needs and concerns of their local area. I am very concerned that Kate Barker is calling for unelected regional assemblies to have greater powers over land use judgements, which would weaken the protection of the Green Belt areas in South West Surrey.Overdevelopment is a key concern for many of my constituents, and fears surrounding traffic congestion, pressure on local services and damage to the character of towns such as Godalming, Haslemere and Farnham will only grow if the Government decides to implement the recommendations in this damaging report.”