Peat

(asked on 10th June 2020) - View Source

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what protection each of clauses 204(a) and 205(d) of the National Planning Policy Framework provide against (a) housing, (b) commercial and (c) public infrastructure development on peat moss.


Answered by
Christopher Pincher Portrait
Christopher Pincher
This question was answered on 18th June 2020

National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) paragraphs 204(a) and 205(d) relate to the extraction of peat. The Framework makes clear that new sites or extensions to existing sites for peat extraction should not be planned for or permitted by Mineral Planning Authorities. The Framework includes strong policies to conserve and enhance the natural environment. The NPPF expects planning authorities to protect and enhance biodiversity and geodiversity in their plans and, when determining planning applications, not to grant planning permission for development that would result in the loss or deterioration of irreplaceable habitats (such as peat land) unless there were wholly exceptional circumstances (Paragraphs 174 & 175(c)).

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