Oral Answers to Questions

Simon Kirby Excerpts

Monday 5th September 2011 Commons Chamber

[Andrew Stunell]

The hon. Lady has made her point, so let me make mine, which is that it is very much for the planning authority approving a development to see what the associated infrastructure should be and how to create the investment force that can deliver it. The new homes bonus will deliver a substantial amount of additional money to Leeds, which can borrow against it in advance to develop the infrastructure that it needs.

[Simon Kirby (Brighton, Kemptown) (Con)]

14. What steps he is taking to remove burdens in the planning system.

[The Minister of State, Department for Communities and Local Government (Greg Clark)]

We are simplifying the national planning policy framework, as some Members may have noticed. Through the Localism Bill, we are also abolishing the regional strategies, which have placed top-down burdens on every authority in the country.

[Simon Kirby]

I thank the Minister for cutting back at the thicket of rules and regulations that hamper development. Can he quantify the cost to local authorities of creating neighbourhood development plans?

[Greg Clark]

The cost of developing a neighbourhood plan will depend on how detailed the plan being executed is. However, we are providing support for every neighbourhood that wants to produce a neighbourhood plan. We have ensured that support will be available even before the Bill is introduced, so that every community that wants to have a neighbourhood plan can get on with it.