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 chapter 2 of the Planning and Infrastructure Bill, for what reason the strategic planning authority must consider notifying bodies which represent the interests of different racial, ethnic or national groups in the strategy area.

New section 12H(3) of the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004 as inserted by clause 47 of the Planning and Infrastructure Bill sets out a range of community-based bodies and interest groups that a strategic planning authority must consider notifying about the publication of the draft strategy. The bodies listed under this provision are by no means exhaustive nor exclusive. The decision as to which bodies and groups to ultimately notify remains at the discretion of the strategic planning authority.

This provision closely matches the equivalent provision in the Greater London Authority Act 1999 regarding the Mayor of London’s London Plan.