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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to paragraph 61-086-20250616 of the Planning Practice Guidance, what criteria local planning authorities and Planning Inspectors are expected to apply in determining whether the content of an emerging local plan has "changed significantly from the one presented at the initial Regulation 19 stage" for the purposes of Annex 1 of the National Planning Policy Framework, published in December 2024; whether those criteria include any quantitative threshold; and what guidance has been issued to the Planning Inspectorate on applying that paragraph.

There are no set criteria for determining whether a version of a local development plan has changed significantly from the one presented at initial Regulation 19 stage.

No specific guidance on paragraph 61-086-20250616 of the Planning Practice Guidance (PPG) has been issued to the Planning Inspectorate.

In interpreting the PPG in question, the position on each plan should be considered on its individual merits.

Whether the removal of a housing allocation or a reduction in the number of homes allocated in a plan constitutes a significant change should be determined in respect of each individual case.