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

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what advice is available to communities formulating neighbourhood plans.

A large range of advice is available to communities formulating Neighbourhood Plans. The Department commissioned a consortium led by Locality to deliver a £10.5 million support programme for 2013-15, which provides help and assistance on neighbourhood planning, including direct support from specialist planning advisors, a telephone advice service and a range of support materials on the http://www.mycommunityrights.org.uk website. Planning Aid England, which is part of this consortium, also offers some free advice on neighbourhood planning.

The Department also published planning guidance earlier this year to provide further advice on neighbourhood planning. Local planning authorities also have a duty to support neighbourhood planning by providing advice and assistance.