Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps she is taking to ensure that parishes in areas without a parish council are (a) consulted on and (b) have the opportunity to provide (i) local insights and (ii) detailed community knowledge during the Planning Inspectorate’s decision-making processes.

In areas with no Parish Council, Parish Meetings can make representations in relation to planning appeals and wider planning consultations.

Beyond this, residents in these areas can engage directly with the various decision-making processes. Those that have already made representations to the local planning authority about a planning application or a local plan consultation, will have their representations forwarded direct to the Planning Inspectorate if there is an appeal or in advance of a local plan examination.

They will also be notified of the appeal or examination, so that they can make further responses or appear at a hearing or inquiry to give evidence. Indeed, residents appear regularly at public hearings and inquiries, where they are afforded time to speak in front of the Planning Inspector.

Community or action groups may also ask to have so-called “Rule 6” status, which entitles them to appear as a formal party to a public inquiry and to cross-examine witnesses.

In the case of Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects, residents can also register to become “interested parties”. This allows them to make representations to the examining panel. They may also ask to speak at the public examination before the examining panel and to attend site visits.