Asked by: Paul Kohler (Liberal Democrat - Wimbledon)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of putting the agent of change principle on a statutory footing.
Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
National planning policy is clear about the importance of ensuring that new development can be integrated effectively with existing businesses and community facilities.
The ‘agent of change’ principle in the National Planning Policy Framework applies to all forms of existing businesses and community facilities that could be adversely affected by new development in their vicinity and requires the applicant to mitigate any adverse impacts if development is to be allowed.
A statutory obligation would be difficult to both create and enforce given the very wide range of circumstances in which the agent of change principle applies.