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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what estimate she has made of the amount of land outside of currently designated settlement boundaries in Essex in respective local plans which will be required to meet her housing targets, by each local planning authority.

The National Planning Policy Framework expects local planning authorities to plan to meet their identified needs and have a clear understanding of the land available in their area. This includes identifying suitable locations for sustainable development.

In doing so, local authorities should promote effective use of land, making as much use as possible of previously developed land and land within settlements.

Local authorities may also consider land outside of existing settlement boundaries where this can meet identified needs in a sustainable way, or by supporting applications for Rural Exception Sites.