Maria Miller, MP for Basingstoke, has welcomed the new National Planning Policy Framework, published by Planning Minister Greg Clark on 27 March.

 The new Framework has been produced following an extensive consultation with Parliament and the public. It gives guidance to local councils in drawing up local plans.

The revised Framework takes account of many of the comments made during consultation and includes robust protections for the natural environment.

 Maria said: “The new Framework has been strengthened by the views made during consultation and I welcome its publication as an important milestone in reforming the planning process.”

 Maria added: “There is some very good news in the revised Framework for Basingstoke. In particular the Framework now allows councils to take account of windfall sites in their housing numbers, and also reduces the requirement to include a figure for housing over and above the demand down from 20% to 5%. Both of these changes should allow the Borough Council to consider reducing the number of greenfield sites in the Local Development Framework.”