Housing development powers for villages

[the invisible man]

Ye Gods, yes I saw that item and was apalled. Obviously my first thought was indeed what about the archaeology, but overall what a stupid and ill-informed idea. Probably most "villagers" would want to stop any development anyway, to protect their own pseudo-rural lifestyle and property values, but how many have the faintest idea how to go about a development, or what might constitute good or bad, over (or under) development, architecture, road layout, infrastructure, security, effects on roads, schools etc. and so on? Presumably they will still be subject to Building Regs so things like fire access, drainage, services, and so on will still be subject to control.

Let's hope it's just another soundbite thing that will die a well-deserved death.