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

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what his policy is on the planning permission required for the sale and development of village halls; and if he will make a statement.

National policy makes clear that planning should promote the retention of community facilities, including meeting places such as village halls. As well as empowering villages to create neighbourhood plans, we have introduced the Community Right to Bid to help protect Assets of Community Value such as village halls.