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

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, whether local planning authorities can limit community housing developments proposed in the dispersal policies of a local plan due to the lack of sufficient infrastructure, shops, services or employment to support such a development.

The National Planning Policy Framework expects local planning authorities to meet the objectively-assessed needs for market and affordable housing in their area, insofar as it is consistent with other policies in the Framework. As part of the plan-making process we expect authorities to consider what infrastructure is needed to support development, and work with neighbouring authorities and transport providers, to develop plans for how it can be provided. The cumulative impact of development, and the need for infrastructure to support development, are material considerations in decisions on individual proposals.