National Planning Policy Framework

Nick's intervention on the Secretary of State's statement to the House 

Nick Herbert (Arundel and South Downs) (Con)

We need more housing, and neighbourhood planning has produced more houses than expected. Does my right hon. Friend agree that speculative development can undermine democratically agreed neighbourhood plans, and will his proposals ensure that the neighbourhood plans are upheld?

The Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government (Sajid Javid)

My right hon. Friend should be reassured that what we have set out today gives greater strength to neighbourhood plans. He makes a very important point. We have found with neighbourhood plans that when we give communities a bigger say, in many cases they actually accept even more development. So far, we have found that that is, on average, about 10% more development.

You can read the Hansard of the full statement here.