Asked by: Derek Twigg (Labour - Widnes and Halewood)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 19 April 2018 to Question 134643, on Housing: Construction, in the event that all other options have been explored whether a Local Plan that does not meet objectively assessed need can still be passed by a Planning Inspector.
Answered by Dominic Raab
Local Plans should meet objectively assessed needs, with sufficient flexibility to adapt to rapid change, unless any adverse impacts of doing so would significantly and demonstrably outweigh the benefits, or specific policies in the National Planning Policy Framework indicate that development should be restricted. At examination, an independently appointed Inspector will consider these factors, as part of their assessment of the Plan and whether the tests of soundness as set out in the Framework have been met.
Asked by: Derek Twigg (Labour - Widnes and Halewood)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the oral answer to the hon. Member for Halton on 30 April 2018, Official Report column 16, what the evidential basis is for the answer.
Answered by Rishi Sunak
As part of our oversight of local government expenditure, this Department does consider the financial stability and service delivery of individual authorities. We keep the system under review and liaise with other departments, including the Department of Health and Social Care, to understand their current assessment of service pressures and aspirations. In addition, Ministers and officials have regular contact with a wide range of local authorities, including as part of the annual local government finance settlement.
On this basis, we have no immediate concerns on the ability of local authorities to fulfil their statutory duties. We know the social care sector is under pressure, which is why we have given an additional £2 billion funding over the three years until 2019-20.
Asked by: Derek Twigg (Labour - Widnes and Halewood)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 9 March 2018 to Question 130480 on Housing: Construction, in the event that (a) a local authority does not have enough brownfield land left to meet their objectively assessed need and (b) neighbouring authorities cannot meet their unmet need would a Local Plan that does not meet objectively assessed housing need be passed by a Planning Inspector.
Answered by Dominic Raab
The draft revised National Planning Policy Framework, published for consultation on 5 March, makes it clear that plans will be found sound by a Planning Inspector only if they provide a strategy which will, as a minimum, meet as much of the identified housing need as possible. To do that they should make effective use of the land they have.
As well as using brownfield land and working with neighbours, local planning authorities should explore all other options such as under-utilised employment and commercial land and minimum density standards where appropriate.
Asked by: Derek Twigg (Labour - Widnes and Halewood)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to oral contribution of the Minister for Housing on 6 February 2018, Official Report, column 1461, whether a local authority with (a) no brownfield land to build on and (b) heavily contaminated land is classified as exceptional circumstances for enabling housebuilding on greenbelt land.
Answered by Dominic Raab
I refer the Hon Member to chapters 11 and 13 of the draft National Planning Policy Framework published for consultation on 5 March.
Asked by: Derek Twigg (Labour - Widnes and Halewood)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the oral contribution of the Minister for Housing on 6 February 2018, Official Report, column 1461, whether he has to empower local authorities to prevent developers from building on greenbelt when allocated brownfield sites have not been developed.
Answered by Dominic Raab
I refer the Hon Member to chapters 11 and 13 of the draft National Planning Policy Framework published for consultation on 5 March.