Mims has asked the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government to comment on the proliferation of crucial Local Plans across the nation. These written questions form part of Mims’ wider efforts to urge Eastleigh Borough Council to create a strong Local Plan in Eastleigh, by demonstrating how Eastleigh is one of a small minority of local authorities without one.
Mims asked the DCLG, ‘how many neighbourhood plans have been adopted in England’, as well as for comment on ‘what proportion of land in England is covered by an adopted Local Plan.’
The Rt. Hon. Gavin Barwell MP, Minister of State for Housing and Planning, responded that, ‘our records show that 268 neighbourhood plans have been adopted in England since April 2013.’
He also wrote that ‘As at 31 December 2016, 74 per cent of land in England is covered by an adopted Local Plan. We want all areas to be covered by an up to date plan and that is why we have brought forward a statutory requirement in the Neighbourhood Planning Bill for local planning authorities to identify strategic priorities and set out policies to address them in their development plan documents.’
Mims will continue to pressure Eastleigh Borough Council to formally identify these priorities and policies in a cohesive Local Plan for the area. She also continues to support the creation Neighbour Plans, such as in Botley.