DARTMOOR National Park Authority’s Chief Executive has expressed his concerns over the Government’s new planning legislation, saying that it ‘drives a coach and horses through the powers that we have to protect Dartmoor.’

The proposal, currently under consultation, seeks to remove ‘the time and money needed to submit a planning application,’ as well as ‘enable farm diversification without having to submit a planning application.’

The legislation would allow rural landowners to convert their barns into houses without needing prior planning permission. A current requirement for shopfronts to be vacant for at least three months before development into housing could also be removed.

However, Kevin Bishop, chief executive of the Dartmoor National Park Authority, argues that the new rules would damage the park’s ability to pursue conservation.

Speaking to the BBC, Kevin said: ‘Basically it drives a coach and horses through the powers that we have to protect Dartmoor for future generations.

‘On one level it’s a charter for speculators and developers - it’s not a charter for conservation and our communities.’