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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, on what date will planning applications be accepted for the proposed North Essex Garden Communities; and what role will his Department play in the process.

Planning applications can be submitted to relevant local authorities at any time. The decision by a local authority must be taken in accordance with the development plan unless there are material considerations that indicate otherwise.

The Secretary of State would not routinely play a role in the decision making of a local authority, but does have the power to call-in an application for his own decision. This is subject to the criteria that the application conflicts with the national policy in important matters, or is nationally significant.