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

To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, if his Department will publish a timeframe for consulting on amending the National Planning Policy Framework to include (a) an understanding of local research and development needs and (b) the provision of additional laboratory space.

Last month, government announced that it will consult on adding requirements to the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) to say that decision makers should pay particular regard to research and development needs, including the need for additional laboratory space, and proactively engage with potential applicants. Government also announced that we will update the Planning Practice Guidance to help local authorities take fuller account of the commercial land needs of businesses and better plan for inward and high value investment. We will work with stakeholders to further understand the changes needed.

We will publish a government response to the recent NPPF consultation in due course. As signalled by the consultation a wider review of the NPPF will follow, this will involve further consultation on proposals, enabling those who wish to comment the opportunity to do so.