To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if she will extend the deadline for the payment of £200,000 in respect of the timely submission of Castle Point's Local Development Framework to allow for public consultation; and if she will make a statement. (243225)

Local planning authorities are rewarded under Housing and Planning Delivery Grant (HPDG) for submitting their development plan documents on time according to the timetable set out in their local development scheme (LDS). LDS timetables are decided by local planning authorities who should have built full provision for public consultation within their LDS timetable. Grant is reduced where documents are not submitted in accordance with the LDS.

The grant award to authorities depends on the number of plans submitted overall, so while £200,000 was paid in the current financial year the amount may well be different next year.