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

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, for what reasons pre-commencement conditions have been removed from planning applications relating to archaeological considerations on a site due for development; and what alternative protections will be put in place to protect such sites.

The planning conditions measure in the Neighbourhood Planning Bill will not restrict the ability of local planning authorities to propose conditions that are necessary to achieve sustainable development, in line with the National Planning Policy Framework.

Where a pre-commencement condition is required to address archaeological considerations and meets the tests for conditions set out in national policy, then the authority can impose such a condition, with the agreement of the applicant. In the unlikely event that an applicant refuses to agree to such a pre-commencement condition being imposed, the local planning authority can refuse planning permission.