Oral Answers to Questions

Christopher Pincher Excerpts

Monday 8th July 2013 Commons Chamber

[Mr Prisk]

I am well aware of the fantastic work to which my hon. Friend refers, and in which he played a part. Local leadership, a clear plan, understanding how to compete, and Government helping small businesses with the right planning policies will turn these towns around.

[Christopher Pincher (Tamworth) (Con)]

10. What steps he is taking to promote the take-up of the new community rights in the Localism Act 2011.

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government (Mr Don Foster)]

Community rights are being promoted through local, national, social and consumer media, ministerial visits, conferences, workshops, and external partners such as Locality, the Campaign for Real Ale and Supporters Direct.

[Christopher Pincher]

Will the Minister impress on local authorities the importance of their using their new powers and rights to resist unwanted wind farm developments such as the one at Relay Park and that in Kingsbury in North Warwickshire, which will tower over homes in Tamworth and cause property blight?

[Mr Foster]

As my hon. Friend knows, the Government recently announced that they will issue new planning policy guidance stating that the need for renewable energy does not automatically override environmental protections and the planning concerns of local communities. We intend to make pre-application consultations with local communities compulsory for more significant wind applications.