Planning: Soil
The question
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of making soil a material consideration in planning law.
Answered by Matthew Pennycook
The National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) and 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 environment by protecting and enhancing sites of geological value and soils. It also stipulates that development proposals should ensure that a site is suitable for its proposed use, taking account of ground conditions and any risks arising from land instability and contamination.
Guidance is clear that soil is an essential natural capital asset that provides important ecosystem services.
The government is currently consulting on changes to the NPPF, including policies relating to the natural environment and pollution. The consultation can be found on gov.uk here and will remain open for responses until 10 March 2026.
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