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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to the Planning and Infrastructure Bill, whether her Department (a) has commissioned or (b) plans to commission pilot studies to assess the effectiveness of Environmental Delivery Plans.

The government will work with Natural England to put the first Environmental Delivery Plans in place as soon as possible following Royal Assent of the Planning and Infrastructure Bill. We will continue to work with relevant stakeholders to determine the best places to implement the new approach.