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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps she is taking to help ensure the protection of green spaces in the London Borough of Havering.

Havering is one of the greenest boroughs in London, this has been recognised through the MHCLG-owned Green Flag Awards Scheme, with 16 Havering sites being awarded Green Flag status. This Green Flag Award sets the national standard for parks and green spaces that are welcoming, safe, well-maintained and promote biodiversity and community participation.

The Government’s National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) allows communities to designate land as Local Green Space, in order to protect green areas that are important to them. Designating land as Local Green Space should be consistent with the local planning of sustainable development and complement investment in sufficient homes, jobs and other essential services. We are consulting on ‘golden rules’ in relation to grey and green belt release to ensure development benefits communities and nature.