Asked by: Andrew Bingham (Conservative - High Peak)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of village or neighbourhood plans; and how many such plan have been lodged and accepted.
Answered by Brandon Lewis
Neighbourhood planning, for the first time, gives residents and individuals in businesses the opportunity to produce neighbourhood plans that have real statutory weight in the planning system and grant planning permission for development they want to see through neighbourhood development orders (including community right to build orders). Over 1,100 communities have taken the first steps towards producing a neighbourhood plan for their area and there has been overwhelming support for neighbourhood plans at the 27 local referendums held so far. The first 19 neighbourhood plans are now in force (made) and are part of the development plan for the area. Planning applications will be determined in accordance with the development plan unless material considerations indicate otherwise.
Asked by: Andrew Bingham (Conservative - High Peak)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what guidance his Department gives on the weight that should be given to a neighbourhood or village plan that has been submitted to a planning authority when considering planning applications.
Answered by Brandon Lewis
Planning applications are determined in accordance with the development plan unless material considerations indicate otherwise. An emerging neighbourhood plan may be a material consideration. The National Planning Policy Framework sets out the weight that may be given to emerging plans in decision taking. We have set out in planning guidance where circumstances may justify the refusal of planning permission on the grounds that an application would be premature in relation to the emerging Local or neighbourhood plan. Any weight a relevant policy could carry in determining a planning application remains with the decision maker.