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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what the status of a local authority’s Local Plan housing allocation is if it is contrary to the numbers required in the Government’s new housing formula; and steps the Government plans to take to ensure that the two are in conformity.

An adopted Local Plan forms part of the Development Plan for an area and is the basis for making planning decisions. Government expects local plans and spatial development strategies to be reviewed to assess whether they need updating at least once every 5 years, and should then be updated as necessary. There will be occasions where there are significant changes in circumstances which may mean it is necessary to review the relevant strategic policies earlier than the statutory minimum of 5 years.