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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps he is taking to reduce the time it takes to complete a new Neighbourhood Plan.

Statutory neighbourhood planning time periods were introduced in October 2016 to speed up the neighbourhood planning process. The 2017 Neighbourhood Planning Act ensures that plans local people have created, come into force following a successful referendum. The starting point for determining planning applications up to eight weeks earlier.

These reforms also make it quicker and easier for communities to update their plans. The Government’s new £23 million support programme (2018-2022) will provide the resources and expertise that communities may need to plan for the future of their areas. Support includes grants for communities and professional planning advice on issues like housing and design.