Many more homes could be on the way in Leicestershire without debate or discussion as councillors fear upcoming planning changes could be a "destruction of democracy".

Changes to the Government's National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) are being implemented across councils in the county, meaning that from October 31, new rules will be adopted to help speed up planning decisions.

The changes are being brought forward in an aim to help "boost housing supply and unlock economic growth".

However, the new rules will mean that far fewer planning decisions can be called in by councillors and brought to a planning committee, with more decisions being dealt with by unelected officers instead.

Planning officers will instead decide on applications, such as minor listed building applications, householder applications, such as extensions and minor commercial applications.

But for those that don't meet certain delegated criteria, a stricter "gateway test" will apply, under which the council's head of planning and the chair of the planning committee must agree to 'call in' the decision for debate.

If they can not agree, the decision will be delegated to unelected officials.

The changes have raised major concerns among county and borough councillors, who say they're taking power away from authorities and reducing trust in politics.

During a Leicestershire County Council meeting on September 23, councillors voted through the Government planning reforms that will apply when its own development board has to decide on potentially controversial planning applications.

Despite not deciding housing building applications, the county council does regularly listen to applications around waste and minerals, such as its recent decision over a biogas plant in Market Harborough – an application which saw widespread controversy and hundreds of objections.

Smaller district and borough councils do decide on other applications, such as housing developments, which will be subject to the same rules set down by the Government.

Despite voting through the planning changes, many councillors said that the changes could be potentially "dangerous" and were "taking away powers from elected members".

Conservative Cllr Phil King called the planning changes a "destruction of democracy".

He said: "It will not lead to an increase in building a single house. All it will be is a developer charter for landbanking on a grand scale.

"It's not going to deliver infrastructure, whether that's roads or schools. We've got no ability to do anything but accept what we're being dished down."

Similar concerns were also echoed by Liberal Democrat Cllr Stuart Bray, also leader of Hinckley and Bosworth Borough Council (HBBC) who said the changes could be "dangerous".

He added: "We are seriously being let down. The public gallery isn't full here tonight until you get a controversial planning application, and then they're always full.

"There is already cynicism in the public about councillors getting brown envelopes for planning applications – this is going to add fuel to that fire.

"This is absolutely appalling."

However, Labour Cllr Jewel Miah, also leader of Charnwood Borough Council, said councillors "wouldn't have any less say" in decisions and called opposition to the changes "just rhetoric".

He said: "In 2012, the last Conservative Government slashed planning regulations and rules by creating the NPPF.

"At that time, I didn't hear any uproar in the chamber.

"Councillors won't have any less say at all. Their residents won't have any less say at all. They'll have equal say as much as they can and as they have now".

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government was contacted for comment.