To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether additional funding is being provided to local authorities in relation to additional functions and roles resulting from the establishment of the Infrastructure Planning Commission. (294905)

The provisions of the Planning Act 2008 do not place any additional requirements on local government, but instead give councils a much clearer statutory role in the process to ensure that proper regard is given to their views.

The Government do not intend to provide additional funding to local government, who already:

look closely at any major infrastructure projects proposed in their area;

engage with developers on potential applications and enforce subsequent consents; and

bear their own costs for their involvement in any inquiry held by the Planning Inspectorate.