A Conservative council is set to defy the government over a relaxation of planning rules for building extensions.
The proposals, covering England and intended to boost the economy, will allow larger home and business extensions without planning permission.
But, amid fears of a rash of ugly extensions, Richmond council officials, in south-west London, are considering ways to circumvent the policy.
The government said councils still had powers to block developments.
A month-long consultation is currently under way on the proposal to ease rules, for a three-year period, on developments including home extensions of up to 8m - compared with the current 3-4m limit on extensions without planning permission.
Unveiling the proposals earlier this month, Prime Minister David Cameron said: "This government means business in delivering plans to help people build new homes and kick-start the economy.
"We're determined to cut through the bureaucracy that holds us back. That starts with getting the planners off our backs, getting behind the businesses that have the ambition to expand and meeting the aspirations of families that want to buy or improve a home."
But, according to BBC deputy political editor James Landale, the plan "has angered many Conservative MPs and councillors who think the policy would alienate many of the party's suburban supporters if unattractive extensions sprang up across the country".
'Foolish proposals'The BBC has learned that Richmond council has formally agreed a motion to "oppose the government's proposals to significantly extend permitted development rights".
On Tuesday evening, council leader Nick True told colleagues: "I have already asked the chief executive with officers to consider what this council might be able to do if we are not successful in getting these, in my view, very foolish proposals changed."
Council officials said they were "reading through the proposals with legal advisers with a fine tooth-comb to identify any flexibility".
Conservative sources in Westminster said it was right for the party to support aspiration and people who wanted to improve their homes.
A Department for Communities and Local Government spokesman said: "The government has eased the planning restrictions and costly bureaucracy that prevents families and businesses from making improvements to their properties because it will help thousands of people move up the property ladder or expand their business without having to relocate.
"However, if there are genuine local concerns councils can withdraw permitted development rights locally using existing powers - known as article four directions - if the exercise of those planning freedoms resulted in unacceptable impacts on their community."
20 Sep, 2012
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Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-19657931#sa-ns_mchannel=rss&ns_source=PublicRSS20-sa
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