Question
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the process is for (a) the Secretary of State and (b) the relevant Government office for the region to approve each local development framework.
Answer
The provisions for approving each development plan document in the framework are set out in the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act (2004) and the accompanying Town and Country Planning (Local Development) (England) Regulations (2004). Each local authority is required to submit to the Secretary of State the development plan document they propose to adopt, which is then subject to an independent examination by a Planning Inspector, appointed by the Secretary of State. There will be a hearing into the 'soundness' of the plan, where any person who has requested to be heard may appear before the Inspector. The Inspector must consider all representations received on the plan, and will then issue a report, the recommendations of which are binding on the local authority. If the Inspector recommends the plan is sound, it must then be adopted by the local authority.