Simon Kirby – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Communities and Local Government

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Simon Kirby on 2014-04-25.

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what discussions he has had with Brighton and Hove City Council on the finalisation of the City Plan for the area; and if he will make a statement.

Nick Boles

The Localism Act 2011 has strengthened the role of Local Plans and abolished the last Administration’s top-down Regional Strategies. Our streamlined National Planning Policy Framework strongly encourages areas to get up-to-date Local Plans in place, and we have been actively supporting councils in doing so. Local Plans now set the framework in which decisions on particular applications are taken, whether locally or at appeal, unless material considerations indicate otherwise.

The Brighton and Hove Local Plan is currently at examination before an independent Inspector and it would not be appropriate for me to comment on the content of the Plan. However, I understand that the Inspector has agreed a programme of additional work with Brighton and Hove Council.