Asked by: Mims Davies (Conservative - Mid Sussex)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what plans he has to further strengthen protection for ancient woodland; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Lord Barwell
The National Planning Policy Framework sets out that planning permission should be refused for development resulting in the loss or deterioration of ancient woodland, unless the need for, and benefits of, the development in that location clearly outweigh the loss.
The Housing White Paper, Fixing our broken housing market, contains proposals to clarify the protection of ancient woodland, and to place these habitats alongside other national policies which indicate development should be restricted when preparing plans or deciding planning applications. Consultation on the White Paper is open for comment until 2 May.
Asked by: Mims Davies (Conservative - Mid Sussex)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what proportion of planning applications which are contrary to an adopted neighbourhood plan and that have gone to an inspector's decision are decided in favour of that plan.
Answered by Lord Barwell
We do not hold the information requested.
An adopted neighbourhood plan is part of the Development Plan for an area. Statute requires that planning applications are determined in accordance with the Development Plan unless material considerations indicate otherwise. Such material considerations can be wide-ranging though must be related to planning. Where a proposal is judged to be contrary to the Development Plan, the decision maker (Inspector) must then apply judgment to the weight that those considerations should attract in deciding whether to approve permission. S/he may grant permission if s/he judges the considerations to outweigh the conflict with the Development Plan policy.
Asked by: Mims Davies (Conservative - Mid Sussex)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the duty to cooperate in the development of local plans.
Answered by Lord Barwell
Government is clear that local planning authorities must work together to plan for common strategic interests. However, we have heard concerns about the effectiveness of the duty to co-operate. The Local Plans Expert Group in particular raised the difficulties that some areas have in providing for the housing they need within their own boundaries. Through the Neighbourhood Planning Bill, we said that we want to see more collaboration by authorities to address issues that require solutions across geographical boundaries.
We continue to consider options to ensure authorities effectively collaborate on common strategic issues and will be publishing a Housing White Paper shortly.
Asked by: Mims Davies (Conservative - Mid Sussex)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what funding his Department has provided to councils in support of neighbourhood plans in the last financial year.
Answered by Lord Barwell
In the last financial year 2015/16 the Department paid £5.2 million to local planning authorities to support neighbourhood planning duties. Arrangements for supporting local planning authorities for 2017/18 will be published shortly.
Asked by: Mims Davies (Conservative - Mid Sussex)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of protection for ancient woodland in the National Planning Policy Framework.
Answered by Lord Barwell
The National Planning Policy Framework is clear that planning permission should be refused for development resulting in the loss or deterioration of irreplaceable habitats, including ancient woodland, unless the need for, and benefits of, the development in that location clearly outweigh the loss.
Asked by: Mims Davies (Conservative - Mid Sussex)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what proportion of land in England is covered by an adopted local plan.
Answered by Lord Barwell
As at 31 December 2016, 74 per cent of land in England is covered by an adopted Local Plan.
We want all areas to be covered by an up to date plan and that is why we have bought forward a statutory requirement in the Neighbourhood Planning Bill for local planning authorities to identify strategic priorities, and set out policies to address them in their development plan documents.
Asked by: Mims Davies (Conservative - Mid Sussex)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, how many neighbourhood plans have been adopted in England.
Answered by Lord Barwell
There is no requirement for the Department to be notified when a neighbourhood plan is adopted. Our records show that 268 neighbourhood plans have been adopted in England since April 2013.
Asked by: Mims Davies (Conservative - Mid Sussex)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what proportion of land in England is covered by an adopted local plan.
Answered by Lord Barwell
244 of 338 local planning authorities (72%) have an adopted Local Plan, compared to 58 (17%) in May 2010. Approximately 69% of England's land area is covered by adopted Local Plans. In order to ensure areas get plans in place the Government has tabled an amendment to the Neighbourhood Planning Bill to place a statutory duty on every local planning authority to have a development plan document and to give the Secretary of State power to direct the relevant county council to produce a plan if a local planning authority in a two-tier area has failed to do so.
Asked by: Mims Davies (Conservative - Mid Sussex)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the strength of a designation as a Site of Special Scientific Interest in determining planning applications.
Answered by Lord Barwell
The National Planning Policy Framework provides strong protection for Sites of Special Scientific Interest. It makes clear that proposed development likely to have an adverse effect on a Site of Special Scientific Interest should not normally be permitted. Planning law requires local planning authorities to consult Natural England on applications for development in or likely to affect Sites of Special Scientific Interest.
Asked by: Mims Davies (Conservative - Mid Sussex)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, how many councils do not currently have a five-year land supply.
Answered by Lord Barwell
We do not hold information centrally on how many local planning authorities do not have a five-year land supply for housing. A local planning authority's five-year land supply position changes frequently and is subject to market conditions. The National Planning Policy Framework requires local planning authorities to keep their land supply under regular review.