Written questions

Planning: Sites of Special Scientific Interest

Commons · Question 129446 · Tabled 22 Apr 2026 · Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government · Official record

Answered 27 Apr 2026

Question

Asked by Calum Miller

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that the planning system provides adequate protection for sites of ecological value prior to designation as Sites of Special Scienti

Answer

Answered by Matthew Pennycook, 27 Apr 2026

The National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) and associated 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 e...