The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government is central to the mission-driven government, from fixing the foundations of an affordable home to handing power back to communities and rebuilding local governments.
As Government seeks to reform local government finance, this inquiry will consider whether the local government finance system is fit …
Oral Answers to Questions is a regularly scheduled appearance where the Secretary of State and junior minister will answer at the Dispatch Box questions from backbench MPs
Other Commons Chamber appearances can be:Westminster Hall debates are performed in response to backbench MPs or e-petitions asking for a Minister to address a detailed issue
Written Statements are made when a current event is not sufficiently significant to require an Oral Statement, but the House is required to be informed.
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government does not have Bills currently before Parliament
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government has not passed any Acts during the 2024 Parliament
e-Petitions are administered by Parliament and allow members of the public to express support for a particular issue.
If an e-petition reaches 10,000 signatures the Government will issue a written response.
If an e-petition reaches 100,000 signatures the petition becomes eligible for a Parliamentary debate (usually Monday 4.30pm in Westminster Hall).
Commons Select Committees are a formally established cross-party group of backbench MPs tasked with holding a Government department to account.
At any time there will be number of ongoing investigations into the work of the Department, or issues which fall within the oversight of the Department. Witnesses can be summoned from within the Government and outside to assist in these inquiries.
Select Committee findings are reported to the Commons, printed, and published on the Parliament website. The government then usually has 60 days to reply to the committee's recommendations.
Effective regulation of political finance is crucial for maintaining public trust in our electoral systems and combatting the threat of foreign interference in our democracy. The Government is committed to strengthening our democracy and upholding the integrity of elections. As stated in our manifesto, we intend to strengthen the rules around donations to political parties to protect our democracy. My department is developing proposals to give effect to these commitments and will provide details to Parliament in due course.
Effective regulation of political finance is crucial for maintaining public trust in our electoral systems and combatting the threat of foreign interference in our democracy. The Government is committed to strengthening our democracy and upholding the integrity of elections. As stated in our manifesto, we intend to strengthen the rules around donations to political parties to protect our democracy. My department is developing proposals to give effect to these commitments and will provide details to Parliament in due course.
The English Devolution White Paper has provided powers for local leaders to deliver for their places and support economic growth. The government keeps all taxes under review.
The Government will work with places to deliver a Devolution Priority Programme (DPP) to roll out devolution to an ambitious timeline, aiming to deliver new strategic authorities and elected Mayors by May 2026.
This Programme will provide a fast-track to mayoral devolution for areas ready to come together under sensible geographies which meet the criteria set out in the White Paper.
To meet these ambitious timelines, we have asked areas to express an interest by the 10th of January, so we can begin delivery at pace. For areas not on the DPP, we will continue to discuss how to extend and deepen devolution in their area to a slower timeframe.
The Government will work with places to deliver a Devolution Priority Programme (DPP) to roll out devolution to an ambitious timeline, aiming to deliver new strategic authorities and elected Mayors by May 2026.
This Programme will provide a fast-track to mayoral devolution for areas ready to come together under sensible geographies which meet the criteria set out in the White Paper.
To meet these ambitious timelines, we have asked areas to express an interest by the 10th of January, so we can begin delivery at pace. For areas not on the DPP, we will continue to discuss how to extend and deepen devolution in their area to a slower timeframe.
As of 30 June 2024, 123,100 households were in temporary accommodation, which is an increase of 16.3% from 30 June 2023. This is the highest on record.
The annual snapshot statistics remain our official and most robust measure of rough sleeping on a single night. The number of people estimated to be sleeping rough on a single night in autumn 2023 was 3,898 – a 27% increase on autumn 2022 and a rise for the second year in a row.
Local Authorities are required to publish homelessness data each quarter. The most recent figures for Q2 2024 are available below using tab TA1:
The most recent rough sleeping snapshot in England was published in February 2024 and covers Autumn 2023. This can be accessed by using the link below:
Planning is a devolved matter and the information provided relates to England only.
The National Planning Policy Framework makes clear that substantial weight should be given to the value of using suitable brownfield land within settlements, including bringing back into residential use empty homes and the development of under-utilised land and buildings to meet the need for homes and other uses.
Changes we made to the National Planning Policy Framework in December 2024 broadened the definition of brownfield land, set a strengthened expectation that applications on brownfield land will be approved, and made clear that plans should promote an uplift in density in urban areas.
On 22 September 2024, we published a ‘brownfield passport’ policy paper inviting views on how we might further prioritise and fast-track building on previously used urban land.
Following Royal Assent of the Levelling Up and Regeneration Act (LURA) in October 2023, a small number of provisions were commenced by the previous government, for example relating to pavement licensing, planning enforcement and certain reforms to the compulsory purchase process.
Building on these measures, in September last year, a power enabling local authorities to bring forward affordable housing, national health or educational facilities through the use of compulsory purchase without paying ‘hope value’ compensation was fully commenced.
We have also made clear that we intend to commence powers contained in the LURA to improve the transparency of build out rates for residential development, including the introduction of commencement notices and progress reports. This was announced alongside the government’s response to the National Planning Policy Framework consultation, published on 12 December.
We do not intend to commence provisions from the LURA that would cut across our commitments to streamline the planning process and unlock development, such as the Infrastructure Levy.
Following Royal Assent of the Levelling Up and Regeneration Act (LURA) in October 2023, a small number of provisions were commenced by the previous government, for example relating to pavement licensing, planning enforcement and certain reforms to the compulsory purchase process.
Building on these measures, in September last year, a power enabling local authorities to bring forward affordable housing, national health or educational facilities through the use of compulsory purchase without paying ‘hope value’ compensation was fully commenced.
We have also made clear that we intend to commence powers contained in the LURA to improve the transparency of build out rates for residential development, including the introduction of commencement notices and progress reports. This was announced alongside the government’s response to the National Planning Policy Framework consultation, published on 12 December.
We do not intend to commence provisions from the LURA that would cut across our commitments to streamline the planning process and unlock development, such as the Infrastructure Levy.
I refer the hon Member to the answer given to Question UIN 17576 11 December 2024.
The government is committed to improving upon existing means of redress for new build homebuyers for when things go wrong. The government responded to the CMA Housebuilding Study in October 2024 and committed to implementing recommendation 2.1, namely a single mandatory consumer code for housebuilders.
The overall case for local government reorganisation is set out the English Devolution White Paper. New unitary councils must be the right size to achieve efficiencies, improve capacity and withstand financial shocks. For most areas this will mean creating councils with a population of 500,000 or more, but there may be exceptions to ensure new structures make sense for an area, including for devolution, and decisions will be on a case-by-case basis.
The Government is determined to drive up standards in the private parking sector.
The Parking (Code of Practice) Act 2019 places a duty on the Government to prepare a code of practice containing guidance about the operation and management of private parking facilities.
At this time the Government is not able to share any further details but please be assured we will announce our plans for the new Code in due course.
The Government is determined to drive up standards in the private parking sector.
The Parking (Code of Practice) Act 2019 places a duty on the Government to prepare a code of practice containing guidance about the operation and management of private parking facilities.
At this time the Government is not able to share any further details but please be assured we will announce our plans for the new Code in due course.
I refer the hon. Member to the answer, as corrected, given to Question UIN 14870 on 26 November 2024.
Decisions on whether to call in a planning application routinely arise following a representation or notification from a third party. In this instance, the Department were notified of the new planning application by Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office officials.
Local Planning Authorities have a statutory obligation to produce a Local Development Scheme and to keep it up-to-date and publicly available. As the Secretary of State set out in her letter of 12 December 2024, we are asking all Local Planning Authorities to review and update their Local Development Scheme in light of the revised National Planning Policy Framework and transitional arrangements by no later than 6 March 2025.
I refer my hon. Friend to the Written Ministerial Statement I made on 21 November 2024 (HCWS244).
I refer my hon. Friend to the Written Ministerial Statement I made on 21 November 2024 (HCWS244).
I refer my hon. Friend to the Written Ministerial Statement I made on 21 November 2024 (HCWS244).
I refer my hon. Friend to the Written Ministerial Statement I made on 21 November 2024 (HCWS244).
I refer my hon. Friend to the Written Ministerial Statement I made on 21 November 2024 (HCWS244).
Having an effective up-to-date plan in place is essential to planning for, and meeting, development needs.
Whether a local authority is required to update their Local Plan as a consequence of the new housing need requirement will depend on the stage a draft plan has reached. This is set out in Annex 1 of the NPPF, particularly paragraphs 234-237.
Authorities that do not have an emerging plan at an advanced stage will need to use the revised NPPF and new housing requirement when preparing their next plan.
The 5-year housing land supply policy is a crucial mechanism in the planning system that ensures local authorities maintain a pipeline of sites for housing. The requirement introduced in para 78 c) in the NPPF means some LPAs will have to add a 20% buffer to their five-year housing land supply requirement. It does not necessitate LPAs producing a plan update.
As part of its Plan for Change, the government has pledged to make decisions on at least 150 major infrastructure projects within this parliament. This target is aimed at projects of a certain type and over a certain size as set out under the Planning Act 2008, which are considered by government to be of national importance and therefore should be consented at a national level through the Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects regime.
Annual estimates of the proportion of building control reported new build purpose-built flats in England and London are shown in Live Table 254, which can be found on gov.uk here.
The English Devolution Bill will create in law the concept of a strategic authority, which will include all combined authorities and combined county authorities, both mayoral and non-mayoral, as well as the Greater London Authority.
The Bill will place a duty on all strategic authorities to produce a spatial development strategy. Strategic authorities with mayors will also receive development management powers like those enjoyed by the Mayor of London. This will include powers to ‘call in’ and determine applications of potential strategic importance and make Mayoral Development Orders.
Local authorities, including unitary authorities, will remain the local planning authorities for their areas and will continue to have a duty to produce a local plan and to determine planning applications.
The establishment of strategic authorities across England will be a gradual process. Our aim is to have a universal system of strategic planning in place by 2030, so the Planning & Infrastructure Bill will place a duty on all combined authorities and combined county authorities, both mayoral and non-mayoral, to produce a spatial development strategy.
Outside of these areas county councils and unitary authorities will also be required to produce a spatial development strategy, either individually or in defined groupings. In some instances, they may also be grouped with a non-mayoral combined authority or combined county authority. The Mayor of London will continue to produce a spatial development strategy for the capital.
The precise geographical extent of these groupings is yet to be determined, but the government believes that they should be based on the sensible geography criteria set out for agreeing devolution deals in the English Devolution White Paper, in anticipation of these groupings forming the basis for future strategic authorities.
As part of the recent consultation on proposed reforms to the National Planning Policy Framework, the government sought views on whether changes were needed to the definition of ‘affordable housing for rent’ to make it easier for organisations that are not Registered Providers, including almshouses, to develop new affordable homes.
While the government are committed to making it easier for almshouses to develop new affordable homes, we ultimately decided against extending the definition to capture almshouses for the reasons set out in our response to the consultation which can be found on gov.uk here.
Informed by the points raised in the consultation, the government will actively explore options in future changes to national policy related to decision making.
For those landlords who wish to register with the Regulator of Social Housing, there is no bar to registration because of size. Registered providers of social housing must meet standards that ensure tenants live in homes that are good quality and well-maintained and that landlords are well-managed and remain financially viable. The Regulator is operationally independent and has designed a registration process that seeks to ensure providers are able to meet its standards once registered.
As part of the recent consultation on proposed reforms to the National Planning Policy Framework, the government sought views on whether changes were needed to the definition of ‘affordable housing for rent’ to make it easier for organisations that are not Registered Providers, including almshouses, to develop new affordable homes.
While the government are committed to making it easier for almshouses to develop new affordable homes, we ultimately decided against extending the definition to capture almshouses for the reasons set out in our response to the consultation which can be found on gov.uk here.
Informed by the points raised in the consultation, the government will actively explore options in future changes to national policy related to decision making.
For those landlords who wish to register with the Regulator of Social Housing, there is no bar to registration because of size. Registered providers of social housing must meet standards that ensure tenants live in homes that are good quality and well-maintained and that landlords are well-managed and remain financially viable. The Regulator is operationally independent and has designed a registration process that seeks to ensure providers are able to meet its standards once registered.
Due to the Secretary of State’s quasi-judicial role in the planning system, it would not be appropriate for me to discuss the details of the Horsham Local Plan and its progress through examination. However, I am happy to meet the hon. Gentleman to discuss general principles in relation to local development plans and water neutrality and I have asked my officials to contact his constituency office with a view to finding a mutually convenient date and time.
The Local Government Minister wrote to all councils on the 16 December in two tier areas to set out the arrangements for local government reorganisation, including inviting council leaders to develop unitary proposals that are in the best interests of the whole area, rather than developing competing proposals.
Unitary councils can lead to better outcomes for residents, save significant money which can be reinvested in public services, and improve accountability with fewer politicians who are more able to focus on delivering for residents. The Government’s policy is to facilitate a programme of local government reorganisation.
The Minister for Local Government wrote to all councils in two-tier areas and neighbouring small unitaries on publication of the English Devolution White Paper on 16th December to set out his ambitions and expectations in greater detail. In this letter the Minster set out his intention to formally invite unitary proposals in January 2025, and this invitation will set out further detail on the criteria that will be considered when taking decisions on proposals that are submitted to Government.
I refer the hon Member to the answer given to Question UIN 16736 on 6 December 2024. Departmental budgets are currently under review and will be announced by His Majesty’s Treasury in due course.
The English Devolution White Paper sets out that the government will legislate so that Mayors are able to appoint and remunerate ‘Commissioners’ who would be able to support the delivery of key functions with portfolios to be determined by Mayors.
My Department does not collect data on the nationalities of people buying homes for private sale on the open market.
Eligibility for social housing is already tightly controlled. If a person’s visa means that they cannot access state benefits or local authority housing assistance, they are not eligible for an allocation of social housing. Migrants arriving in the UK on student or work visas are not eligible and nor are those who arrive in the country illegally with no leave to remain.
MHCLG ministers have had no recent discussions with the Migration Advisory Committee about the government’s ambitious milestone of building 1.5 million safe and decent homes in England this parliament.
I refer the hon Member to the answer given to Question UIN 15694 on 2 December 2024. The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government has supported the rapid review ordered by the Home Secretary, and the government will set out its approach to countering extremism in due course.
The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government is committed to evaluating the impacts and effectiveness of the UK Shared Prosperity Fund. The UKSPF evaluation strategy sets out the approach to evaluation. The department has committed to publish evaluation findings on an ongoing basis as they are available.
The government is determined to address the dire inheritance left by its predecessor and restore order to the asylum and immigration systems, delivering lower net migration.
Boosting the supply of homes of all tenures must be at the heart of any strategy to improve housing affordability which is why the government’s Plan for Change includes a hugely ambitious milestone of building 1.5 million safe and decent homes in England in this Parliament.
The Renters’ Rights Bill will empower private rented sector tenants to challenge unreasonable within-tenancy rent increases.
In line with the practice of successive administrations, details of external meetings held by Special Advisers are published in line with the requirements set out in guidance here.
The government recognise the considerable financial strain that rising services charges are placing on leaseholders and tenants of housing associations.
The level of service charge that leaseholders pay depends on many factors, including the terms of a lease and the age and condition of a building.
By law, variable service charges must be reasonable. Should leaseholders wish to contest the reasonableness of their service charges they may make an application to the appropriate tribunal.
The Leasehold and Freehold Reform Act 2024 includes measures designed to drive up the transparency of service charges to make them more easily challengeable if leaseholders consider them to be unreasonable.
The government is committed to acting quickly to implement the provisions of the Act. Further detail can be found in the written ministerial statement published on Thursday 21 November (HCWS244).
The National Planning Policy Framework makes clear that development resulting in the loss or deterioration of irreplaceable habitats, which can include ancient woodland and chalk streams, should be refused, unless there are wholly exceptional reasons and a suitable compensation strategy exists.
I refer the hon. Member to my answer to Question UIN 19066 on 20 December 2024.
Staff in the department often work across a range of policy areas other than their primary role so it is not possible to specify exact numbers.
Cohesion & Integration is a core thread of policy that cuts across many aspects of the departments work.
Details of staffing are published in departmental organograms, which are updated periodically.
Whilst there is no strict definition for a high street business, the Office for National Statistics publishes business demographic information on an annual basis. The latest release was published on 18 November: Business demography, UK - Office for National Statistics.
At Budget 2024, the government published ‘Transforming Business Rates,’ this sets out the government’s first steps to reform the business rates system.
As part of this reform plan, the government has announced that it intends to introduce permanently lower tax rates for high street retail, hospitality, and leisure properties, with rateable values below £500,000, from 2026-27, and has introduced primary legislation to deliver on this commitment.
The Government will shortly consult on implementing a minimum energy efficiency standard of Energy Performance Certificate Band C or equivalent in the private rented sector by 2030. The consultation will be accompanied by an Options Assessment, which will consider impacts arising from the policy proposals.
Organisations provided are for secondments active on 30/11/2024 within the Ministry for Housing Communities and Local Government.
Organisation |
University of Cambridge |
Aylesbury Vale District Council |
Newcastle City Council |
Homes England |
Local Government Association |
Sandwell Council |
Natural England |
Greater Manchester Combined Authority |
The address of every departmental office and the number of staff assigned to each of those offices is set out below, together with confirmation of which offices will remain open and which will close.
Office Location | Address | Status | Staff assigned |
Belfast | Erskine House | Remaining open | 21 |
Birkenhead | Rosebrae Court | Remaining open | 87 |
Bristol | Temple Quay House | Remaining open | 169 |
Cambridge | First Floor | Remaining open | 53 |
Cardiff | Ty William Morgan | Remaining open | 45 |
Darlington | Feethams House | Remaining open | 127 |
Edinburgh | Queen Elizabeth House | Remaining open | 52 |
Hastings | 1 Priory Square | Remaining open | 27 |
Hemel Hempstead | The Forum | Remaining open | 57 |
Leeds | 7 Wellington Place | Remaining open | 168 |
London | Fry Building | Remaining open | 2,222 |
Manchester | Piccadilly Gate | Remaining open | 199 |
Norwich | Rosebery Court | Remaining open | 12 |
Nottingham | Apex Court | Remaining open | 70 |
Plymouth | Seaton Court | Remaining open | 23 |
Wolverhampton | i9 Building | Remaining open | 278 |
Birmingham | 23 Stephenson Street | Closing | 149 |
Exeter | The Senate | Closing | 26 |
Newcastle | Citygate | Closing | 67 |
Sheffield | 2 St Paul’s Place | Closing | 51 |
Truro | Lemon Quay House | Closing | 15 |
Warrington | Renaissance House | Closing | 59 |
Grand Total |
|
| 3,977 |
Robust auditing processes are in place to ensure that all Fire Risk Appraisals of External Walls (FRAEWs) for buildings in the Government’s remediation funding programmes meet appropriate standards before the associated funding application can progress. Where required, feedback is given to allow assessors to make appropriate changes to the FRAEW to address any deficiencies identified. Reassessments of appraisals are not therefore necessary.
EWS1s are not a legal or regulatory requirement. Their use is a commercial decision by lenders and subject to their individual lending criteria. If residents have concerns about the fire safety of their building they should raise this with the building owner or person responsible for fire safety.
The Institution of Fire Engineers is an independent organisation following bespoke reporting and investigation processes. Following the publication of the Grenfell Tower Fire Inquiry Report, the Department is reviewing the findings and recommendations in relation to the fire engineering sector.