National Planning Policy Statement

Lord Greaves Excerpts

Wednesday 5th December 2012 Lords Chamber

Asked By

[Lord Greaves]

To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether it is their policy that the proportion of England that is built upon should rise from 9% to 12%; and whether that aim is in line with the National Planning Policy Statement.

[Lord Greaves]

My Lords, in asking the Question standing in my name on the Order Paper, I remind the House of my active membership of my local planning authority.

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Communities and Local Government (Baroness Hanham)]

My Lords, the Government’s policy, as set out in the National Planning Policy Framework, is that councils should have plans in place that meet their housing and development needs. These will vary across the country, depending on local circumstances and demands.

[Lord Greaves]

My Lords, I congratulate the Minister on not answering my Question at all. The first half of my Question is to ask the Government whether the statement by the Planning Minister, Mr Boles, in recent days that the amount of countryside that will need to be built on is such as to increase the amount of built-up area in England by one-third. Was he giving his own opinion or was he speaking as a Minister and giving government policy?