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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps he is taking to embed sustainable transport provision in the planning process.

The Government is taking a number of steps to embed sustainable transport provisions in the planning process. Last year the Government consulted on the Planning for the Future White Paper which made clear that our planning reforms will seek to reduce our reliance on carbon-intensive modes of transport. Alongside this, the Government intends to publish the Transport Decarbonisation Plan in the Spring and will ensure this aligns with any outcomes from the Planning for the Future White Paper.

The National Planning Policy Framework already actively promotes sustainable transport, and Planning Practice Guidance is also being updated in line with this. In addition, the Government has committed to updating Manual for Streets guidance to ensure the principles of good street design play a key role in creating sustainable communities and are embedded in the planning process, particularly the National Model Design Code.