Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

National Planning Policy Framework: Neighbourhood Planning

Monday 22 January 2024 · 2 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 1 Partly answered 1 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Luke Evans asked about the assessment of neighbourhood planning's role in the national planning policy framework.
  • The Government recognizes the efforts of communities in creating neighbourhood plans and has updated the national planning policy framework to better protect these plans from speculative development.
  • Luke Evans highlighted issues with his Lib Dem-run borough council lacking an up-to-date local plan, leaving residents vulnerable to speculative housing developments without necessary infrastructure.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Luke Evans Con Hinckley and Bosworth
Local Government
Context

The question arises from the role of neighbourhood planning within the national planning policy framework.

Question

What assessment has been made of the role of neighbourhood planning in the national planning policy framework?

Answer from Lee Rowley

The Government recognise the time and commitment that communities put into neighbourhood plans. Our recent updates to the national planning policy framework mean that neighbourhood plans meeting their identified housing requirement are now better protected from speculative development, including through the additional reforms coming in the Levelling-up and Regeneration Act 2023.

Answered
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Q2 Luke Evans Con Hinckley and Bosworth
Housing Local Government
Context

A Lib Dem-run borough council has no up-to-date local plan, leaving communities vulnerable to speculative housing developments without necessary infrastructure. The questioner requests an increased priority for neighbourhood plans.

Question

My Lib Dem-run borough council still does not have an up-to-date local plan. Every day that passes means that we are open to speculative housing developments without the right infrastructure such as GP practices and roads. My communities are fantastic at producing neighbourhood plans, but they are ridden over roughshod in places such as Desford where housing has been put in where the community does not want it. Will the Minister look at increasing the priority given to neighbourhood plans when communities and local planning authorities do not have an up-to-date local plan?

Answer from Lee Rowley

It is hugely frustrating when local plans are not in place. In his area, the Lib Dem council has failed to do that, which is letting residents down. Changes have been made through updates to the national planning policy framework giving additional protection through neighbourhood plans, but district councils and those with planning responsibilities need to get their plans in place.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The specific request for increasing priority of neighbourhood plans was not directly addressed.

How: Lib Dem Council Has Failed

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