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

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, (a) how many interventions Ministers of his Department have made to suspend or halt the adoption of local plans since 2010, (b) the grounds on which any such interventions have been made and (c) the names of the councils subject to such interventions.

By May 2010, only 58 Local Plans had been adopted compared with 244 by October 2016. The Government wants to be satisfied that the interests of local people are protected, and as a result has exercised his powers under Section 21 of the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act in four cases since 2010.

In March 2015 the Secretary of State directed that Policy CS13 Housing Requirement and supporting text of North Somerset Council Core Strategy be submitted to him for approval in order to review and consider the Inspector’s conclusions.

In June 2015 the Secretary of State directed that Maldon District Council Local Development Plan was submitted to him for approval in order to test whether the Inspector had reached a proportionate and balanced view on the Local Plan as a whole in the light of national planning policy.

In May 2016 the Secretary of State directed Birmingham City Council and in October 2016, City of Bradford Metropolitan District Council not to take any steps in connection with the adoption of their Local Plans. This was to allow time for proper consideration of the issues raised and to determine whether to intervene.