Planning: Soil
Commons · Question 102028 · Tabled 2 Jan 2026 · Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government · Official record
Answered 12 Jan 2026
Question
Asked by Blake Stephenson
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of making soil a material consideration in planning law.
Answer
Answered by Matthew Pennycook, 12 Jan 2026
The National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) and Planning Practice Guidance are material considerations in the planning process. The NPPF makes clear that planning policies and decisions should contribute to and enhance the natural and local environment ...