A backlash against the government’s planning reforms has been blamed for a shock Conservative defeat at the Chesham and Amersham by-election.

Ministers claim the changes are necessary to build more homes, but critics say they’ll make no difference or make it harder to object to bad developments.

The reforms, suggested in a government white paper called Planning For the Future, are complicated and there are a number of different facets to them. They are yet to be turned into formal legislation.