Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether Development Management Plans from local planning authorities that fail to meet their full Objectively Assessed Housing Need are not classified as unsound by (a) his Department and (d) the Planning Inspectorate solely on the grounds that greenfield sites on Green Belt land have not been recommended for release.

The failure to release Green Belt would not in itself be a reason that a plan would be found unsound. Where authorities are not proposing to meet all of their identified housing need, they should show what options they have explored for meeting their need, and only release Green Belt land if exceptional circumstances can be demonstrated.