Asked by: Oliver Dowden (Conservative - Hertsmere)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, further to Question 14369, whether he will place in the Library details of (a) the dates and participants of any meetings and (b) any written correspondence between his Department and the Financial Conduct Authority referring to its investigation into Drax Group plc during the last six months.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) provided the link to their online press statement on 18 June, confirming that their investigation had concluded and no further action would be taken. The Department has had no other correspondence with the FCA on this matter, nor have any meetings taken place with the FCA.
Asked by: Oliver Dowden (Conservative - Hertsmere)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, if he will ask Ofgem to disclose (a) when Drax Group plc first informed Ofgem of the existence of the December 2022 and February 2023 KPMG reports and (b) whether Ofgem obtained unfettered access to unredacted versions of those reports before concluding its investigation in August 2024.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
As requested, I will ask Ofgem to write to the Rt hon Member in due course to set out responses to your questions.
Please note that Ofgem kept DESNZ officials suitably informed of the progress of its investigation and the documents it accessed in the course of reaching its findings, including the KPMG reports.
Asked by: Oliver Dowden (Conservative - Hertsmere)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what guidance his Department provides to Local Planning Authorities to ensure that green infrastructure delivered via developer contributions satisfies local requirements for spatial quality and facility type.
Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
The National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF), published in December 2024, sets out that access to high quality open spaces and opportunities for sport and physical activity are important for the health and well-being of communities, and can deliver wider benefits for nature and support efforts to address climate change. Additionally, plans should make sufficient provision for green infrastructure, which is defined as a multifunctional network of green and blue spaces.
Planning policies should be based on robust and up-to-date assessments of the need for open space, sport and recreation facilities (including quantitative or qualitative deficits or surpluses) and opportunities for new provision. Information gained from the assessments should be used to determine what open space, sport and recreational provision is needed, which plans should then seek to accommodate.
The NPPF is also clear that open space should not be built on unless there is clear evidence it is no longer required, or equivalent or better provision is secured in a suitable location, or development of the site is for alternative sports and recreational provision, the benefits of which clearly outweigh the loss of the current or former use.
Between 16 December 2025 and 10 March 2026, we consulted on a new NPPF. That consultation, which can be found on gov.uk here, includes proposals to give substantial weight to development proposals that provide new or improved community facilities such as facilities for play, sport and informal recreation, and proposes safeguards against the loss of existing open space.
The draft NPPF also includes a new requirement for local plans to set standards for green infrastructure drawing on Natural England’s Green Infrastructure Framework. The Green Infrastructure Framework includes a standard on accessible greenspace which sets criteria on size, proximity and quality.
Additionally, our proposed policy clearly sets out that development proposals should make sure that green infrastructure is located and designed to minimise risk of future failure, and that appropriate measures are in place for any necessary long-term management.
We are currently analysing the feedback received and will publish our response in due course.
Asked by: Oliver Dowden (Conservative - Hertsmere)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether his Department has made an assessment of trends in the number of recreational spaces that fall outside Sport England's statutory remit, with reference to data compiled by Fields in Trust since 2020.
Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
The National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF), published in December 2024, sets out that access to high quality open spaces and opportunities for sport and physical activity are important for the health and well-being of communities, and can deliver wider benefits for nature and support efforts to address climate change. Additionally, plans should make sufficient provision for green infrastructure, which is defined as a multifunctional network of green and blue spaces.
Planning policies should be based on robust and up-to-date assessments of the need for open space, sport and recreation facilities (including quantitative or qualitative deficits or surpluses) and opportunities for new provision. Information gained from the assessments should be used to determine what open space, sport and recreational provision is needed, which plans should then seek to accommodate.
The NPPF is also clear that open space should not be built on unless there is clear evidence it is no longer required, or equivalent or better provision is secured in a suitable location, or development of the site is for alternative sports and recreational provision, the benefits of which clearly outweigh the loss of the current or former use.
Between 16 December 2025 and 10 March 2026, we consulted on a new NPPF. That consultation, which can be found on gov.uk here, includes proposals to give substantial weight to development proposals that provide new or improved community facilities such as facilities for play, sport and informal recreation, and proposes safeguards against the loss of existing open space.
The draft NPPF also includes a new requirement for local plans to set standards for green infrastructure drawing on Natural England’s Green Infrastructure Framework. The Green Infrastructure Framework includes a standard on accessible greenspace which sets criteria on size, proximity and quality.
Additionally, our proposed policy clearly sets out that development proposals should make sure that green infrastructure is located and designed to minimise risk of future failure, and that appropriate measures are in place for any necessary long-term management.
We are currently analysing the feedback received and will publish our response in due course.
Asked by: Oliver Dowden (Conservative - Hertsmere)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what mechanisms exist within national planning policy to enable developers to secure long-term legal protection for newly created public green spaces within major housing allocations, with reference to the draft National Planning Policy Framework.
Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
The National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF), published in December 2024, sets out that access to high quality open spaces and opportunities for sport and physical activity are important for the health and well-being of communities, and can deliver wider benefits for nature and support efforts to address climate change. Additionally, plans should make sufficient provision for green infrastructure, which is defined as a multifunctional network of green and blue spaces.
Planning policies should be based on robust and up-to-date assessments of the need for open space, sport and recreation facilities (including quantitative or qualitative deficits or surpluses) and opportunities for new provision. Information gained from the assessments should be used to determine what open space, sport and recreational provision is needed, which plans should then seek to accommodate.
The NPPF is also clear that open space should not be built on unless there is clear evidence it is no longer required, or equivalent or better provision is secured in a suitable location, or development of the site is for alternative sports and recreational provision, the benefits of which clearly outweigh the loss of the current or former use.
Between 16 December 2025 and 10 March 2026, we consulted on a new NPPF. That consultation, which can be found on gov.uk here, includes proposals to give substantial weight to development proposals that provide new or improved community facilities such as facilities for play, sport and informal recreation, and proposes safeguards against the loss of existing open space.
The draft NPPF also includes a new requirement for local plans to set standards for green infrastructure drawing on Natural England’s Green Infrastructure Framework. The Green Infrastructure Framework includes a standard on accessible greenspace which sets criteria on size, proximity and quality.
Additionally, our proposed policy clearly sets out that development proposals should make sure that green infrastructure is located and designed to minimise risk of future failure, and that appropriate measures are in place for any necessary long-term management.
We are currently analysing the feedback received and will publish our response in due course.
Asked by: Oliver Dowden (Conservative - Hertsmere)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of proposed planning reforms on green space accessibility in lower-income socio-economic areas.
Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
The National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF), published in December 2024, sets out that access to high quality open spaces and opportunities for sport and physical activity are important for the health and well-being of communities, and can deliver wider benefits for nature and support efforts to address climate change. Additionally, plans should make sufficient provision for green infrastructure, which is defined as a multifunctional network of green and blue spaces.
Planning policies should be based on robust and up-to-date assessments of the need for open space, sport and recreation facilities (including quantitative or qualitative deficits or surpluses) and opportunities for new provision. Information gained from the assessments should be used to determine what open space, sport and recreational provision is needed, which plans should then seek to accommodate.
The NPPF is also clear that open space should not be built on unless there is clear evidence it is no longer required, or equivalent or better provision is secured in a suitable location, or development of the site is for alternative sports and recreational provision, the benefits of which clearly outweigh the loss of the current or former use.
Between 16 December 2025 and 10 March 2026, we consulted on a new NPPF. That consultation, which can be found on gov.uk here, includes proposals to give substantial weight to development proposals that provide new or improved community facilities such as facilities for play, sport and informal recreation, and proposes safeguards against the loss of existing open space.
The draft NPPF also includes a new requirement for local plans to set standards for green infrastructure drawing on Natural England’s Green Infrastructure Framework. The Green Infrastructure Framework includes a standard on accessible greenspace which sets criteria on size, proximity and quality.
Additionally, our proposed policy clearly sets out that development proposals should make sure that green infrastructure is located and designed to minimise risk of future failure, and that appropriate measures are in place for any necessary long-term management.
We are currently analysing the feedback received and will publish our response in due course.
Asked by: Oliver Dowden (Conservative - Hertsmere)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps his Department is taking to address local authority playing field accessibility.
Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
The National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF), published in December 2024, sets out that access to high quality open spaces and opportunities for sport and physical activity are important for the health and well-being of communities, and can deliver wider benefits for nature and support efforts to address climate change. Additionally, plans should make sufficient provision for green infrastructure, which is defined as a multifunctional network of green and blue spaces.
Planning policies should be based on robust and up-to-date assessments of the need for open space, sport and recreation facilities (including quantitative or qualitative deficits or surpluses) and opportunities for new provision. Information gained from the assessments should be used to determine what open space, sport and recreational provision is needed, which plans should then seek to accommodate.
The NPPF is also clear that open space should not be built on unless there is clear evidence it is no longer required, or equivalent or better provision is secured in a suitable location, or development of the site is for alternative sports and recreational provision, the benefits of which clearly outweigh the loss of the current or former use.
Between 16 December 2025 and 10 March 2026, we consulted on a new NPPF. That consultation, which can be found on gov.uk here, includes proposals to give substantial weight to development proposals that provide new or improved community facilities such as facilities for play, sport and informal recreation, and proposes safeguards against the loss of existing open space.
The draft NPPF also includes a new requirement for local plans to set standards for green infrastructure drawing on Natural England’s Green Infrastructure Framework. The Green Infrastructure Framework includes a standard on accessible greenspace which sets criteria on size, proximity and quality.
Additionally, our proposed policy clearly sets out that development proposals should make sure that green infrastructure is located and designed to minimise risk of future failure, and that appropriate measures are in place for any necessary long-term management.
We are currently analysing the feedback received and will publish our response in due course.
Asked by: Oliver Dowden (Conservative - Hertsmere)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether he has made an assessment of the adequacy of technical capacity and specialist resources within Local Planning Authorities to evaluate the potential impact of reduced sports facilities in the absence of a statutory consultee requirement.
Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
I refer the Rt Hon. Member to the answers given to Questions UIN 103087 on 13 January 2026 and UIN 119470 on 23 March 2026.
Asked by: Oliver Dowden (Conservative - Hertsmere)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps his Department is taking to help ensure that planning reforms do not lead to a reduction in local sports provisions.
Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
I refer the Rt Hon. Member to the answers given to Questions UIN 103087 on 13 January 2026 and UIN 119470 on 23 March 2026.
Asked by: Oliver Dowden (Conservative - Hertsmere)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment his Department has made of the potential implications for his Department's policies of the formal consultation responses submitted to the 'Reforms to the statutory consultee system' consultation by sports bodies and figures regarding the adequacy of proposed alternative mitigations for protecting community assets.
Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
I refer the Rt Hon. Member to the answers given to Questions UIN 103087 on 13 January 2026 and UIN 119470 on 23 March 2026.