Thank you for contacting me about the Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill.
This legislation is an important step in reforming our planning system and will put local people and their preferences at the heart of development. I recognise that many people feel strongly about these issues.
I completely agree with you about the importance of walking and cycling to the health and wellbeing of our communities. The National Planning Policy Framework already requires local planning authorities to consider these issues at the earliest stages when preparing their development plans. They are also material considerations in planning decisions.
Wider steps are being taken across government to improve walking and cycling provision. The transport decarbonisation plan promotes the principle of 20-minute neighbourhoods, while newly-created Active Travel England will act as a statutory consultee within the planning system. The Government is also updating the Manual for Streets, which places the needs of pedestrians and cyclists at the top of the hierarchy of street users.
I know that improving the health and wellbeing of our communities is something the Government considers with the utmost importance. For example, I support the establishment of new integrated care boards which must have regard to a locally-produced strategy informed by local health and wellbeing boards. Within the planning system, it is already the case that planning policies should support healthy lifestyles, especially where that would address identified local health and wellbeing needs – as laid out in Government guidance.
Climate change is one of the greatest challenges we face, and I share your view that the planning system should support climate change mitigation. You may be interested to know that, alongside the Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill, the Government has committed to review the National Planning Policy Framework, with a view to ensure it contributes to climate change adaptation and mitigation as fully as possible.
I know that the Government is committed to ensuring that the Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill creates tangible changes for communities.