Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to the Planning for the Future White Paper published in March 2020, what steps he is taking to (a) maintain and (b) enhance (i) green spaces, (ii) nature and (ii) biodiversity and growth and renewal zones.

Planning for the Future included the proposal that local plans would categorise all land as areas for growth, for renewal or for protection. If that reform is taken forward, a local authority would still be expected to protect and enhance valued green spaces and biodiversity in areas earmarked for growth or renewal. Legal protections for landscape and habitat will remain in force, and local plans and decisions should still accord with policies in our National Planning Policy Framework on the natural environment and biodiversity net gain, local green space, and provision of open space for outdoor recreation. Consultation on the White Paper closed on 29 October 2020. Following consideration of all the feedback received, the Government will publish its response in due course. This will set out any decisions and how we would propose to implement them.