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

To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the role of (1) gardens, and (2) green spaces, in achieving their Levelling Up ambitions.

The Levelling Up White Paper is clear that green infrastructure is a key component to levelling up, as so many levelling up goals are connected to green places that local people can be proud of. People’s lives are shaped by the social and physical fabric of their communities. The local mix of social and physical capital, which includes good quality green spaces, gives areas their unique character and vibrancy, and makes residents proud to live there.

A beautiful built environment, access to leisure and cultural amenities and safe neighbourhoods can also attract businesses to high streets, leading to increased footfall and private sector investment in communities. To make this a reality, communities must have strong civic institutions, assets and relationships that anchor local pride in place.

My department has set out in the National Planning Policy Framework that planning policies and decisions should take into account the desirability of maintaining an area’s prevailing character and setting, which can include preserving residential gardens.

My department is delivering the £9 million Levelling Up Parks Fund which provides direct grants to deliver over 100 green spaces in the communities with the lowest access to green space.

The Government also announced in the Levelling Up White Paper that we will invest a further £30 million to refurbish at least 30 parks in England, with an emphasis on providing facilities for young families.

Further details on these funds will be announced in due course.