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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether she plans to commence the remaining provisions of the Neighbourhood Planning Act 2017.

The government intends to commence the temporary possession provisions in the Neighbourhood Planning Act (NPA 2017).

To pave the way for this, we are taking forward a measure in the Planning and Infrastructure Bill to amend the NPA 2017 temporary possession powers to disapply them to Transport and Works Act Orders, Development Consent Orders and Infrastructure Consent Orders. This will allow the NPA 2017 provisions to be commenced for taking temporary possession of land in respect of compulsory purchase orders made under regimes such as the Acquisition of Land Act 1981 without impacting the delivery of critical infrastructure.

Following Royal Assent of the Planning and Infrastructure Bill and before commencing the amended NPA 2017 temporary possession power provisions, we will need to consult on regulations relating to the reinstatement of land subject to a period of temporary possession.