New RIBA president Alan Jones has criticised the Tories’ planning announcements, pointing to a “huge contradiction” at their heart.

He said publishing new design guidance alongside plans to extend permitted development rules – “which allow projects to sidestep vital quality and environmental standards” – made no sense.

“While the new guidance could play a crucial role in improving the quality of new developments across the country, it must have teeth and cannot be undermined by a weakening of the planning system in other areas,” he said.

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