Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if his Department will take steps to ensure through the planned National Planning Policy Framework revision that viability assessments are made transparent and public to allow for proper scrutiny by local councillors and communities.
In September the Government consulted on proposals to simplify the viability assessment process, create more certainty about the contributions developers are expected to make and improve transparency.
The consultation asked what factors should be taken into account in updating national planning guidance, to encourage viability assessments to be simpler, quicker and more transparent. For example, through a standardised report.
The consultation has now closed and we are currently analysing the responses. A further announcement will be made in due course.