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

To ask Her Majesty's Government what status a local government Neighbourhood Development Plan (NDP) has in any consideration by a planning inspector of an application that conflicts with the objectives of the NDP; and what guidance they have made available about the steps to take in the event of any such conflict.

Once adopted, neighbourhood plans become part of the development plan for the local area alongside the Local Plan. Planning law requires that decision takers, including planning inspectors, must determine planning applications in accordance with the development plan (including any neighbourhood plan) unless material considerations indicate otherwise. In addition, the National Planning Policy Framework makes clear that where a planning application conflicts with an up-to-date development plan (including any neighbourhood plan), permission should not usually be granted.