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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what requirements are in place to ensure that local people are fully consulted prior to previously developed land that is part of the green-belt is built on.

Applications for development on previously developed land in the Green Belt are subject to the statutory publicity requirements as outlined in article 15 of The Town and Country Planning (Development Procedure) (England) Order 2015. Local planning authorities must give notice by site display in at least one place on or near the land to which the application relates or by serving the notice on any adjoining owner or occupier. The Government is committed to protecting and enhancing the Green Belt in line with our manifesto. The National Planning Policy Framework outlines strong protections for Green Belt land, making it clear that most new building is inappropriate in Green Belt, and should be refused planning permission unless there are very special circumstances.

Where an application is a departure from the local plan they must also advertise in a local newspaper and publish information about the application on their website. A local planning authority may not determine an application until the period of public consultation, a minimum of 21 days, has been completed but they can extend this period of time if necessary. Local planning authorities also have discretion to undertake additional publicity on a case by case basis and may take into consideration the level of public interest in an application.