Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what consideration should be made by the Planning Inspectorate of emerging neighbourhood plans during the examination phase of local plan creation.

During the examination phase, the role of a Planning Inspector is to assess whether the local plan has been prepared in line with the relevant legal requirements, and whether it meets the tests of ‘soundness’ contained in the National Planning Policy Framework. An emerging neighbourhood plan and the evidence that underpins that plan, can be considered by the inspector where relevant to the preparation of the local plan. Government planning guidance makes clear that it is important for local plans to make appropriate reference to neighbourhood plan policies or proposals.