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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what guidance has been given to local planning authorities and what is the policy position of the Planning Inspectorate, on the weight to be given to the “best interests of the child” in planning applications and appeals.

As established in law, the weight to be given to different material considerations is a matter for individual decision makers, provided they are not acting irrationally.

Through national policy we can seek to influence the weight given to particular matters, but ultimately weight is a matter for the given decision maker in each instance.