What the Lib Dems' shock 'Blue Wall' by-election win means for the government's planning changes

The Liberal Democrats' spectacular by-election win in a previously safe Tory seat in Buckinghamshire is likely to see the government face increased opposition to its proposed changes to the planning system and potentially water down the more radical measures, commentators expect.
See the comment from Planning Resource website

Comment from Prof. Michael Dower:
"In the recent Queen’s speech, the government stated its intention to bring forward in the autumn legislation to change the current basis of Planning.  Its aim is to speed up the process of giving planning permission for new development, particularly housing.  The central idea is that the zoning of land for development by local planning authorities would be replaced by a simplistic top-down zoning directly by the government.  This would focus on three types of zone – those for growth, with automatic permission for development;  those for protection;  and those for regeneration, where special government resources would be available to assist development. 
This proposal has attracted widespread opposition from professional planning organisations, from local authorities whose powers would be reduced, and from the public.  This opposition is seen as a major factor in the 25% swing in voting in the Chesham and Amersham by-election, through which the seat fell to a liberal Democrat with the appropriate name of Sarah Green.  There is growing revolt among Conservative MPs in southern England, and the government may well be forced to think again.  If the legislation did go through, it would ‘change the game’ for planning in Dorset. "