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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether the proposed railway station at Aldridge has been included in any assessment of land subject to the National Planning Policy Framework policy on development around well-connected stations; and whether that policy can apply before a proposed station has secured funding and become operational.

The definition of ‘well-connected’ station is set out in the glossary at Annex B of the National Planning Policy Framework. It is for decision makers to determine whether any given station meets the definition of ‘well-connected’. My Department has not made an estimate of the impact of the policy around any specific station.