Nigel Evans – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Communities and Local Government

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Nigel Evans on 2016-07-11.

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, if his Department will take steps to mitigate the environmental and congestion concerns of residents arising from the building of new houses in Whalley.

Brandon Lewis

Local authorities and their communities are best placed to decide, through their Local and Neighbourhood Plans, which land is most suitable for development and what infrastructure is needed to support it. The National Planning Policy Framework, which must be taken into account in plan-making and is a material consideration in individual planning decisions, makes it clear that the purpose of the planning system is to contribute to the achievement of sustainable development. It:

• states that Green Belt should be given the highest protection and its boundaries only adjusted in exceptional circumstances through the Local Plan process;

• requires local authorities to support a pattern of development that, where reasonable to do so, facilitates the use of public transport, walking and cycling, and focus significant development in locations which are or can be made sustainable

• enables local communities to identify for special protection green or open areas of particular importance to them as Local Green Space;

• is clear that inappropriate development in areas at risk of flooding should be avoided by directing development away from areas at highest risk.

Individual decisions are made in accordance with the development plan unless material considerations indicate otherwise.