Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps he is taking to help reduce delays to approvals from the Building Safety Regulator to applications to double glaze windows.

Answered by Samantha Dixon - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

We are aware of challenges in the system and delays to approvals of building control applications, and work is underway to address this issue.

On the 27 January, the BSR became a standalone organisation under MHCLG, marking a major step towards creating a single construction regulator. Under new leadership, enhanced operating models are delivering significant progress.

BSR continues to make strong headway tackling new build cases already in the system with only the most complex cases remaining. The Innovation Unit has dramatically reduced processing time for new build applications, with the highest quality applications approved within the 12-week target.

We must go further and build on the progress already made in operations and through the launch of the new body for the BSR. We are undertaking a programme of work to review the proportionality of the higher-risk building control regime, with a view to making targeted changes to the regime to improve proportionality whilst upholding safety aims. In particular, we are focusing on proposals to review the procedural requirements of the regime for high-volume, low complexity, routine works.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the proportionality of the requirement for planning permission to install double glazing.

Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

My Department has not undertaken such an assessment, as in most cases the replacement of windows of similar appearance can be undertaken without the need for a planning application.

However, there may be some local exceptions, and other consents such as listed building consent may be required.

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 value for money delivered through the 2003 - 2005 redevelopment of 2 Marsham Street.

Answered by Samantha Dixon - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The Department has not undertaken a dedicated, standalone assessment of the value for money delivered specifically through the 2003–2005 redevelopment of 2 Marsham Street. However, the National Audit Office reviewed the associated Private Finance Initiative arrangements for the new Home Office headquarters in 2003. The NAO concluded that the Home Office had secured a good price through a well‑run competition, with risks appropriately allocated and favourable financing obtained. The report indicated that the project was expected to deliver value for money, provided the remaining accommodation and property‑related risks were managed effectively.

The Public Accounts Committee’s Eighteenth Report (2003–04) further found that commissioning a new building rather than refurbishing the three former Marsham Towers offered better value for money, avoided the business disruption and costs of temporary accommodation, and supported the consolidation of government estate functions. The Committee noted that the redevelopment contract, valued at £311 million (net present cost), was selected as the most cost‑effective option following full competition.

These independent assessments confirmed that the redevelopment represented value for money for the taxpayer at the point the investment decision was taken. The Treasury has made no subsequent assessment that contradicts these findings.

Found: Room 4A Meeting time 16:30–18:00 Attendees Client Board Programme Board (in attendance) Rachel Blake

Found: HOUSE OF COMMONS COMMISSION Monday 8 December 2025 Present: Rachel Blake, in the Chair

Found: Room 4A Meeting time 16:30–18:00 Attendees Client Board Programme Board (in attendance) Rachel Blake

Found: COMMISSION / MEC Monday 8 December 2025 Present: The Speaker, in the Chair Steve Barclay Rachel Blake

Found: COMMISSION / MEC Monday 12 January 2026 Present: The Speaker, in the Chair Steve Barclay Rachel Blake

Found: Speaker, Chorley) (Chair) Rt Hon Steve Barclay MP (Conservative, North East Cambridgeshire) Rachel Blake

Found: Speaker, Chorley) (Chair) • Rt Hon Steve Barclay MP (Conservative, North East Cambridgeshire) • Rachel Blake

Found: Committee Room 4A Meeting time 16:30–18:00 Attendees Client Board Programme Board (in attendance) Rachel Blake

Found: Room 2A/3A Meeting time 16:30–18:00 Attendees Client Board Programme Board (in attendance) Rachel Blake

Found: Attendees Client Board Programme Board (in attendance) Steve Barclay MP Judith Cummins MP Rachel Blake

Found: Room 4A Meeting time 16:30–18:00 Attendees Client Board Programme Board (in attendance) Rachel Blake

Found: in Darlington to discuss the work of the Treasury, and our former colleague on the Committee, Rachel Blake