To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if she will encourage local authorities to take action to ensure that no one should live more than 500 metres from a two hectare wood or four kilometres from a 20 hectare wood. (235480)

Planning Policy Guidance note 17: “Planning for open space, sport and recreation” (PPG17) already encourages local planning authorities to identify the specific needs for easily accessible, good quality open space, including woodland, within their areas. Authorities should use the information gained from their assessments of needs to establish an effective open space strategy which should form the basis for appropriate policies in their development plan. PPG17 requires local authorities to derive local standards for the provision of open space, as national standards cannot cater for local circumstances, such as the extent of existing built development in an area.