LGA briefing - Neighbourhood Planning Bill, House of Commons, Public Bill Committee, Tuesday 25 October 2016

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House of Commons, Public Bill Committee, Tuesday 25 October 2016

Key messages

  • We have some concerns that New Clause 4 tabled by the Minister of State for Housing and Planning, Gavin Barwell MP would give powers to the Secretary of State to force two or more local planning authorities to prepare a joint development plan. We support the Government's efforts to streamline the local plan-making process. However, we are concerned about provisions that would give the Secretary of State new powers over local plans, including to intervene in the local plan-making and plan revision process.
  • We would welcome further detail on New Clause 7 tabled by the Minister of State for Housing and Planning, Gavin Barwell MP, which would give powers to the Secretary of State to force a local planning authority to review its local development documents at prescribed times. The national planning practice guidance already sets out expectations for revisions and updates to local development plans, any additional reviews required by the Government must be fully funded.

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