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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what powers the Government would have under the draft revised National Planning Policy Framework to compel local councils to fulfil their objectively assessed housing need in areas where there is insufficient or inadequate infrastructure to support development.

The draft National Planning Policy Framework set out that local authorities should, as a minimum, provide for objectively assessed needs for housing and other development in plans. These plans would be tested by an independent Planning Inspector at the plan examination.

The council will also need to ensure there is sufficient infrastructure available to accommodate proposals bought forward in their plan, this will also be tested at examination to determine whether the plan is effective and can be delivered.

The consultation on the draft revised National Planning Policy Framework closed on the 10 May and we are considering the comments received. We aim to publish the new version of the National Planning Policy Framework in the Summer.