Jason had a Zoom meeting with the Netherton Community Action Group this evening and he spoke in Parliament yesterday about the importance of local people having their say on major planning applications that will impact on their communities.
Jason McCartney MP
May I have a statement on the public scrutiny of planning applications?
Understandably, the opportunity for public meetings has been curtailed during the covid pandemic, but I have a number of controversial large housing applications, including ones at Netherthong and Netherton.
I am sure that my right hon. Friend would agree that local residents must be heard when their communities will be hugely impacted by those kinds of huge developments.
Jacob Rees-Mogg MP
I think there is not a single Member of this House who has not had, in his or her constituency, an issue raised of a planning kind that is of great importance to local constituents.
It is important that local views are made known and that facilities have been kept during the coronavirus pandemic to ensure that virtual planning committees, with local planning āauthorities across the country, are implementing planning decisions.
However, they are also still required to consult on and publicise planning applications to get the views of local communities.
I think that is the right way to proceed.
