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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps his Department will take to strengthen the protections against light pollution in the forthcoming reforms to the planning system.

The National Planning Policy Framework sets out that local planning policies and decisions should limit the impact of light pollution from artificial light. The Framework is supported by our planning guidance, revised in November last year, which sets out how environmental and other impacts of light pollution should be considered in the planning system. Local planning authorities must take the Framework into account when preparing their plans, and its policies - including those on light pollution - also need to be taken into account in making individual planning decisions. The Planning for the Future White Paper includes proposals for strengthening the way that environmental issues are considered through the planning system. These proposals are now being consulted on and the Government is encouraging feedback from individuals and organisations as part of its assessment of the proposed measures.