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

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what steps his Department is taking to support the creation of traditional, street-based, high-density designs in new housing developments.

The Government is very clear that good design is a key aspect of sustainable development, is indivisible from good planning, and should contribute positively to making places better for people. We want to see new developments that function well and add to the overall quality of the area, that establish a strong sense of place by using streetscapes and buildings to create attractive and comfortable places to live, work and visit. Our planning guidance reinforces this strong focus on design, and provides advice on tools for delivery - including design codes. However, it is for local authorities and their communities, through their Local Plans and Neighbourhood plans, to set out the quality of design that they wish to see in their area.