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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what status local designations have under the National Planning Policy Framework.

Locally designated sites have no special status within the National Planning Policy Framework. However, under the Framework local plans are expected to identify, map and safeguard locally designated sites of importance for biodiversity, including Local Wildlife Sites. As a result, locally designated sites will be considered by local planning authorities when assessing proposals for development.