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

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of powers available to community groups to appeal against housing development targets drawn up by local authorities.

Local authority housing targets must be based on an objectively assessed evidence of need and the capacity to meet that need. There are opportunities for community groups and local residents to raise their concerns about proposed housing targets through public consultation on an emerging Local Plan, and again at the independent examination which must be undertaken before the Local Plan can be adopted.