Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if he will extend beyond the 31 December 2020 the deadline as permitted under the Business and Planning Act 2020 for making a meaningful start on projects with planning permission in response to the national covid-19 lockdown which commenced on 5 November 2020.

The Business and Planning Act 2020, in recognition of the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the housebuilding sector, has made provision to extend the duration of unimplemented planning permissions which have lapsed or are due to lapse between 23 March and 31 December 2020. This extension will be to 1 May 2021. The legislation allows for certain dates to be amended by regulations, such as the date for eligible permissions and the extension. The use of these powers is being kept under review.