Sutton Council has criticised government proposals to relax planning regulations.

Following a narrow win in a House of Commons vote on Tuesday, council leader Ruth Dombey and housing, economy and business committee chair Jayne McCoy have publicly slammed the decision – labelling it as a “recipe for disaster”.

Sutton Council fears the decision will mean developers will be able to bypass council planning controls in order to fast-track their proposals.

Business premises would be able to expand by 100sq metres and industrial units by 200sq metres.

Offices could convert to residential use without planning permission – irrespective of the impact they will have on a neighbourhood.

Councillor Dombey said: “We said before these plans would be a recipe for disaster and this decision is hugely disappointing, risking a split in communities that we were trying to avoid.

“The Lords’ amendments very sensibly gave local authorities the possibility to opt out of the proposals but these seem to have been shunned in order to bulldozer through ill-thought out plans that will set neighbour against neighbour.

“We will continue our opposition of these plans in order to protect the look of our borough and maintain the high level of community spirit that is a feature of Sutton.

"We call on the Secretary of State to see sense, listen to the protests from local authorities all across the country and modify the proposals accordingly.”

Coun Jayne McCoy said the changes would mean owners of mid-terrace homes could find their rear windows flanked by six metre high extensions on both sides plunging them into darkness.