Neighbourhood Plans: Planning Decisions Debate

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Department: Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government

Jim Shannon

Main Page: Jim Shannon (Democratic Unionist Party - Strangford)

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Westminster Hall

Neighbourhood Plans: Planning Decisions

Jim Shannon Excerpts

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Wednesday 9th July 2025

(2 days, 10 hours ago)

Westminster Hall
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Luke Evans Portrait Dr Evans
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My hon. Friend is spot on. In the planning system, there is a constant feeling that things are being done to people, not with them. The idea of localism and neighbourhood plans was to fight that. We know that local plans deliver more housing with neighbourhood plans, because the neighbourhood chooses where it goes, so it is in keeping with what the local village or parish wants. I will come on to that, because that is the key point.

Jim Shannon Portrait Jim Shannon (Strangford) (DUP)
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I thank the hon. Gentleman for securing this debate. I told him beforehand that I am not speaking today and will only make an intervention because neighbourhood plans specifically apply to England. In Northern Ireland, community planning partnerships bring together public services, residents and businesses, but they do not directly determine specific planning decisions. Does he agree that planning applications could be passed quicker through greater integration with the public and that we should look at a UK-wide strategy? He has lots of wisdom and knowledge, and he has explained this issue for all our benefit today. Does he agree that that might be a way forward?

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