Oral Answers to Questions
Debate between Stuart Andrew and Stephen Williams
Stuart Andrew (Pudsey) (Con)
17. What steps his Department is taking to support local communities with neighbourhood planning and community rights.
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government (Stephen Williams)
Since April 2012, we have provided £48.5 million to help communities understand and access community rights and associated initiatives. This has funded a helpline, online tools and resources, and specialist support and grants. From next year we are investing a further £32 million to help communities take up the rights.
Stuart Andrew
Neighbourhood forums in my constituency are engaging with the planning process and developing considered and well-researched neighbourhood plans, but their complaint is that they are not statutory consultees on planning applications that affect their area. Will the Department look at this?
Stephen Williams
Our guidance is clear. Where there is an emerging neighbourhood plan and the local authority—Leeds in the hon. Gentleman’s case—does not have a local plan, it should take account of the emerging issues in the neighbourhood plan in designated areas, such as Aireborough in his constituency.