Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what plans he has to strengthen protection for ancient woodland in the National Planning Policy Framework; and what recent discussions he has had with his Cabinet colleagues on that matter.

The National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) is clear that planning permission should be refused for development resulting in the loss or deterioration of irreplaceable habitats, including ancient woodland unless the need for and benefits of the development clearly outweigh the loss. This is a high bar, but we acknowledged in the Housing White Paper that further protections could be added. We are currently working with the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and Her Majesty's Treasury to consider the findings of the Housing White Paper consultation and will be publishing a revised draft NPPF for consultation early in 2018.