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

To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of introducing requirements for residents to be made aware of (a) construction plans and (b) the projected noise pollution from those plans as a prerequisite for building works.

A planning application for major development must be accompanied by a design and access statement. This will explain the design principles and concepts that have been applied to the proposed development and demonstrate the steps taken to assess the context of the proposed development.

All documents submitted as part of a planning application, including any noise impact or environmental impact assessments, are made publicly available for comment during the mandatory 21 consultation period. This ensures local residents are aware of the application, and its supported documents, and can comment on these. Our National Planning Policy Framework states that planning decisions and subsequent developments should not contribute to unacceptable levels of noise pollution and that developments should take into account adverse noise affecting existing amenities and local infrastructure.

The Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill will increase the opportunities for involvement to ensure development is brought forward in a way that works best for local people. Alongside traditional forms of engagement, digital engagement will remove barriers to engagement and provide new opportunities for local people to engage. We are clear that communities must have a say on development that affects them and they will retain the right to comment on planning applications.