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

To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth on 18 December (HL12036), why they have not commenced those parts of the Neighbourhood Planning Act 2017 not yet in force.

In relation to the Planning provisions in Part 1 of the Neighbourhood Planning Act 2017, Section 7 (Engagement by examiners with qualified bodies, etc) has not been commenced as the Department wishes to first see how effective recently produced sector led guidance by the Neighbourhood Planning Independent Examiner Referral Service is. Guidance required under Section 8(2) (Content of development plan documents) will be published shortly. The provisions under Section 14 (Planning conditions) restricting the power to impose planning conditions have not commenced as they require affirmative regulations and further public consultation.

In relation to the Compulsory Purchase provisions in Part 2 of the Act, Sections 18-28 and 31 (Temporary possession of land) are yet to be commenced as they are subject to the making of other regulations and further public consultation. Sections 39 and 40 (Interest on late payments) cannot be commenced until other regulations relating to rates of interest are made. The Government continues to keep the commencement of these remaining provisions under active review alongside further planning reforms.