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

To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, whether his Department is taking steps to support local planning authorities to consider the location of (a) infrastructure, (b) transport routes, (c) economic areas and (d) housing areas which would be built beyond the time period of their local plans.

At present, local planning authorities are required to produce strategic policies that look ahead over a minimum 15 year period from adoption, to anticipate and respond to long-term requirements and opportunities, such as those arising from major improvements in infrastructure. Where larger scale developments such as new settlements or significant extensions to existing villages and towns form part of the strategy for the area, policies should be set within a vision that looks further ahead (at least 30 years), to take into account the likely timescale for delivery of different forms of development including supporting infrastructure.

The Planning Advisory Service, which is part of the Local Government Association, is available to provide advice to local planning authorities about any aspect of plan making, including providing support on the preparation of policies that may look beyond plan periods. Local planning authorities may also engage with the Planning Inspectorate during the plan preparation process to get advice on particular matters.

Under the Government's proposed planning reforms, local authorities will continue to be required to plan for different types of development over a number of years in order to provide certainty to the public and other key stakeholders.