Developers say reforms are necessary to boost the industry but opponents fear that relaxing the rules will allow developers to ride roughshod over the country's remaining green spaces.

BBC: Planning reform: Consultation attracts 10,000 responses

They might, for example, undermine the role of the IMF and World Bank, abandon attempts to expand free trade or even just ride roughshod over aid conditions in poor countries.

ECONOMIST: The BRICs

"I'm just staggered to be quite honest that the council could be so insensitive and just ride roughshod over local people when there's so much strong feeling about it, " he added.

BBC: New footpath in a copse