Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Stuart Andrew and Stephen Williams

Monday 2nd February 2015 Commons Chamber

[Stuart Andrew (Pudsey) (Con)]

17. What steps his Department is taking to support local communities with neighbourhood planning and community rights.

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government (Stephen Williams)]

Since April 2012, we have provided £48.5 million to help communities understand and access community rights and associated initiatives. This has funded a helpline, online tools and resources, and specialist support and grants. From next year we are investing a further £32 million to help communities take up the rights.

[Stuart Andrew]

Neighbourhood forums in my constituency are engaging with the planning process and developing considered and well-researched neighbourhood plans, but their complaint is that they are not statutory consultees on planning applications that affect their area. Will the Department look at this?

[Stephen Williams]

Our guidance is clear. Where there is an emerging neighbourhood plan and the local authority—Leeds in the hon. Gentleman’s case—does not have a local plan, it should take account of the emerging issues in the neighbourhood plan in designated areas, such as Aireborough in his constituency.