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 protect green spaces from unsuitable development in (a) Ashfield constituency and (b) England.

The Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government has a quasi-judicial role in the planning system, and a duty of impartiality is in place. This means that I cannot comment on local policies or decisions regarding the protection of green spaces in Ashfield. It is for each local authority to plan for its area in consultation with local people, and apply policies in its development plan and national planning policy to local places and circumstances.

The National Planning Policy Framework recognises that access to a network of high-quality open spaces is important for the health and well-being of communities. Local authorities should assess the need for open space, and opportunities for new provision, and accommodate these in their plans. The Framework also states that such open space should not be built on unless an assessment shows that the land is surplus to requirements, the loss resulting from the proposed development would be replaced by equivalent or better provision in a sustainable location, or the development is for alternative sport and recreational provision, the benefits of which clearly outweigh the loss.

In response to the Building Better, Building Beautiful Commission’s recommendations, we are giving every local authority the ability to create, in consultation with local people, its own design code to help secure more beautiful development, including the provision of green space and other green infrastructure. Local authorities are already empowered to designate Local Green Space, to protect land of importance to local people from inappropriate development.

There are also strong protections for Green Belt land in the Framework. The Government is committed to protecting and enhancing the Green Belt, and to making the most of brownfield land for development. Local authorities are expected to seek opportunities to enhance beneficial uses of Green Belt, including better access and opportunities for outdoor sport and recreation.