{"value":{"id":1609796,"askingMemberId":4084,"askingMember":null,"house":"Commons","memberHasInterest":false,"dateTabled":"2023-04-14T00:00:00","dateForAnswer":"2023-04-18T00:00:00","uin":"179929","questionText":"To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, what steps he has taken to (a) invest in and (b) fast-track the planning process for water storage, recycling and treatment on farms.","answeringBodyId":211,"answeringBodyName":"Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities","isWithdrawn":false,"isNamedDay":false,"groupedQuestions":[],"answerIsHolding":false,"answerIsCorrection":false,"answeringMemberId":4668,"answeringMember":null,"correctingMemberId":null,"correctingMember":null,"dateAnswered":"2023-04-24T00:00:00","answerText":"<p>Planning policy encourages growth through the conversion of existing buildings and promoting well-designed new buildings, alongside the development and diversification of agricultural and other land-based rural businesses. In addition, there are a range of existing permitted development rights which allow for certain agricultural development to take place without a planning application.</p><p>The National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) is also clear that local authorities should have a positive strategy in place to promote energy from renewables. Permitted development rights currently allow for the installation of rooftop solar up to one megawatt on non-domestic properties, such as farm buildings.</p><p>A planning application is not usually required for smaller, on-farm reservoirs, where the waste material excavated to develop a reservoir remains on the farm. An existing permitted development right allows for the creation of smaller, on-farm reservoirs. The right is subject to prior approval, providing a streamlined planning process allowing for local consideration of specific planning matters set out in legislation.</p><p>In line with the practice of successive administrations, details of internal discussions are not normally disclosed.</p>","originalAnswerText":"","comparableAnswerText":"","dateAnswerCorrected":null,"dateHoldingAnswer":null,"attachmentCount":0,"heading":"Farms: Planning Permission","attachments":[],"groupedQuestionsDates":[]},"links":[{"rel":"self","href":"/Questions/1609796","method":"GET"}]}