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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of making water companies statutory consultees in planning applications.

The government recently declared a moratorium on any new statutory consultees, along with a review of the existing statutory consultee arrangements to ensure they align with the government’s ambitions for growth. Further detail can be found in the Written Ministerial Statement made on 10 March 2025 (HCWS510). Any further announcements will be subject to this review.

I also refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UNI 40935 on 31 March 2025.