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

To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to expand the National Planning Policy Framework’s presumption in favour of sustainable development to include an aim of striving for racial equality in all planning processes.

The National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) already expects that local plans and decisions should apply a presumption in favour of sustainable development, of which social sustainability is a key component. The planning system has three overarching objectives for achieving sustainable development, which are interdependent and need to be pursued in mutually supportive ways. As well as an economic and environmental objective, this includes a social objective - to support strong, vibrant and healthy communities, fostering well designed, beautiful and safe places that reflect current and future needs of all in the community.

These objectives should be delivered through the preparation and implementation of plans and the application of the policies in the NPPF, including an expectation that planning policies and decision should ensure that developments create places that are safe, inclusive and accessible. Further, local authorities must comply with their duties under the Equality Act in exercise of their planning functions.