PARLIAMENTARY WRITTEN QUESTION
Community Development: Infrastructure (11 September 2024)

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to her Department's Proposed reforms to the National Planning Policy Framework and other changes to the planning system, last updated on 2 August 2024, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of applying golden rule b to non-Green Belt land.

Asked by:
James Naish (Labour)

The Green Belt serves a number of specific national planning purposes, including checking the unrestricted sprawl of large built-up areas, preventing neighbouring towns merging into one another, and assisting in safeguarding the countryside from encroachment.

It is precisely because the Government recognises the public value provided by the Green Belt that we believe any major development on land release from it should be subject to golden rules, including providing necessary improvements to local or national infrastructure, to ensure public benefit.

Local development plans should address needs and opportunities in relation to infrastructure and identify what infrastructure is required and how it can be funded and brought forward. This will remain the case irrespective of whether any proposed reforms to the National Planning Policy Framework or wider national planning policy are taken forward.

When preparing a Local Plan, Planning Practice Guidance recommends that local planning authorities use available evidence of infrastructure requirements to prepare an Infrastructure Funding Statement. Such Statements can be used to demonstrate the delivery of infrastructure throughout the plan-period.

Additionally, the Government provides financial support through the £1.5 billion Brownfield, Infrastructure and Land fund which will boost local areas by transforming disused sites and investing in vital infrastructure to help create vibrant communities for people to live and work, while also protecting green spaces.

Answered by:
Matthew Pennycook (Labour)
18 October 2024