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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to his letter to Conservative Members of Parliament dated 7 February 2019, what plans he has to strengthen policy on intentional unauthorised development; what the timetable is for the delivery of those plans; and if he will make a statement.

The Government amended national planning policy in August 2015 to make intentional unauthorised development a material consideration in the determination of planning applications and appeals. In April 2018 the Government consulted on the range of powers available to local authorities, the police and landowners for dealing with unauthorised development and encampments. In our response to that consultation, published in February 2019, we committed to strengthening policy on intentional unauthorised development and will consult on proposed measures shortly. This forms part of a comprehensive package of measures announced in February 2019, which includes:

• stronger powers for the police to respond to unauthorised encampments;
• practical and financial support for local authorities to deal with unauthorised encampments;
• support for traveller-site provision; and
• support for the travelling community to improve life chances.