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 plans to establish new powers for development corporations in coastal communities.

My Department has made no specific assessment on the potential impact of Development Corporations in accelerating the conversion of vacant upper floors in town centres into residential accommodation.

The Planning and Infrastructure Act 2025 included measures to create a clearer, more flexible, and robust framework for development corporations.

The government intends to bring forward further legislation in due course to provide for locally led urban Development Corporations, enabling more coastal communities to establish them, where appropriate.