Housing: Wealden

(asked on 22nd February 2021) - View Source

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what plans he has in place to ensure that housing allocations take into account protected areas in Wealden which has no green belt but with the Ashdown Forest and the protected Pevensey Levels is more than 60 per cent AONB.


Answered by
Christopher Pincher Portrait
Christopher Pincher
This question was answered on 2nd March 2021

The standard method for assessing local housing need is only the starting point in the process of planning for new homes, it is not a housing target. Local authorities will still need to consider the constraints they face locally, to assess how many homes can be delivered in their area.

The National Planning Policy Framework is clear that great weight should be given to conserving and enhancing landscape and scenic beauty in Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Specific strong protections are enshrined for protected areas or assets of particular importance within footnote 6 of the Framework, including, for example, Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty, Sites of Special Scientific Interest, Green Belt, irreplaceable habitats, and designated heritage assets.

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