Source · Select Committees · Housing, Communities and Local Government Committee
Recommendation 4
4
We were concerned to hear from organisations related to electricity, nuclear and water infrastructure about...
Recommendation
We were concerned to hear from organisations related to electricity, nuclear and water infrastructure about the challenges posed by the Government’s proposed reforms. The Government should explain how it sees vital infrastructure being affected by its proposals. This should include whether there would be special designations for such infrastructure and whether it will be possible to comment on different specific infrastructure proposals. It should also explain how infrastructure providers will be able to comment on and influence emerging proposals for specific projects. (Paragraph 34) Local Plans
Government Response
Acknowledged
HM Government
Acknowledged
9. The Government agrees with the Committee that the relationship between plans, national policy and the requirements placed on new development should be made clear. One way the Bill does this, and strengthens democracy as a result, is through giving local plans more weight in law. This will make it harder for local authorities or planning inspectors to make decisions that are contrary to the local plan, which the community will have had opportunities to engage with. Additionally, a new set of National Development Management Policies in the NPPF will save local authorities time, removing the need to repeat things which apply universally, helping them to get plans in place quickly and allowing local leaders to focus on issues that matter most locally. 10. It is widely acknowledged that meaningful and early engagement with local communities and statutory consultees can have many benefits, including the potential to identify and address problems early in the application process which can help speed up decision-making. Statutory consultees will be able to comment on individual sites where they have concerns, as they do in the current system. 11. To support better infrastructure provision through plan making, the Government is introducing a new requirement for Infrastructure providers to provide assistance to Local Authorities in drafting their local plans. This will ensure local authorities get the information they need in a timely manner so that they can identify how infrastructure and new housing development should be sited and provided.