Sir Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what steps he is taking to strengthen Neighbourhood Plans; and if he will make a statement.

Gavin Barwell, Minister of State for Housing and Planning, Minister for London: We have strengthened Neighbourhood Planning through the Neighbourhood Planning (General) and Development Management Procedure (Amendment) Regulations 2016 that implement powers in the Housing and Planning Act 2016 and proposed measures in the Neighbourhood Planning Bill. In addition, my recent Neighbourhood Planning written ministerial statement of 12 December 2016 further strengthened Neighbourhood Planning by making it clear that where communities have planned for housing in their area through a recent neighbourhood plan, that those relevant policies should not be deemed to be “out-of-date” unless there is a significant lack of land supply for housing in the wider local authority area.

The Government has made available £22.5 million to support Neighbourhood Planning through the 2015-18 support programme. The Housing White Paper 2017 set out our intention to make further funding available to neighbourhood planning groups from 2018-2020.

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