Asked by: James Cleverly (Conservative - Braintree)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 24 November 2025, to Question 90709, on Shops: Planning Permission, and the Answer of 7 November 2025, to Question 86776, on Retail Trade: Urban Areas, what are the new specific powers for local authorities to block unwanted (a) hairdressers and (b) barbers that would apply to shops that are not otherwise long-term empty, separate to the Companies House changes.
Answered by Miatta Fahnbulleh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
As we have set out, there are a range of measures to tackle this issue. This government has since announced further action to crack down on illegal high street activity in premises such as mini-marts, barbershops, vape shops, nail bars and car washes. The Autumn Budget has provided £15 million per year to fund enhanced enforcement activity and establish a cross-government policy taskforce to better understand and disrupt organised crime, money laundering and related criminality on our high streets.
This is in addition to wider measures, which support stronger action against those who break the rules, including amending the Company Directors Disqualification Act to extend the circumstances in which directors who break the law can be disqualified.
Asked by: Edward Morello (Liberal Democrat - West Dorset)
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 has issued guidance on the application of pavement licence caps in the Levelling Up and Regeneration Act 2023 across highways maintainable at public expense regardless of the owning authority.
Answered by Miatta Fahnbulleh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
The Pavement Licence (Fees) Regulations 2023, made under the Business and Planning Act 2020, set national fee caps of £500 for new pavement licences and £350 for renewals. The guidance (Pavement licences: guidance - GOV.UK) sets out that licences can only be granted in respect of highways listed in section 115A(1) of the Highways Act 1980, that section does not refer to ownership. Generally, these are footpaths restricted to pedestrians or roads and places to which vehicle access is restricted or prohibited. Highways maintained by Network Rail or over the Crown land are exempt (so a licence cannot be granted).
Asked by: Edward Morello (Liberal Democrat - West Dorset)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if his Department will make an assessment of the potential impact of a devolution deal for Wessex on the economy of Wessex.
Answered by Miatta Fahnbulleh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
The evidence is clear that to drive improved economic outcomes, we must devolve core levers over growth – like transport, skills, employment support and strategic planning – and align these across functional economic areas in which people live and work. Decisions on future devolution, including for Wessex, will be confirmed in due course, subject to further ministerial review and local conversations.
Asked by: Edward Morello (Liberal Democrat - West Dorset)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if he will make an estimate of the savings to local authorities in the Wessex area from a devolution deal.
Answered by Miatta Fahnbulleh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
The evidence is clear that to drive improved economic outcomes, we must devolve core levers over growth – like transport, skills, employment support and strategic planning – and align these across functional economic areas in which people live and work. Decisions on future devolution, including for Wessex, will be confirmed in due course, subject to further ministerial review and local conversations.
Asked by: Wendy Morton (Conservative - Aldridge-Brownhills)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to his proposal to determine certain called-in applications by written representations rather than inquiry, what assessment he has made of the implications for the level of scrutiny applied to large or complex applications on Green Belt land; and if he will issue criteria ensuring that proposals with significant Green Belt or environmental impacts will continue to receive a full inquiry where appropriate.
Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
The Written Ministerial Statement of 2012 sets out the circumstances in which the Secretary of State will use his powers to intervene.
All called in planning applications and appeals will continue to be considered against adopted local plans, in line with s38(6) of the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004, taking into account material planning considerations, which may include emerging Local Plans.
Proposals to determine the appropriate procedure for called-in applications would be introduced by commencing existing provisions in the Planning Act 2008.
Asked by: Wendy Morton (Conservative - Aldridge-Brownhills)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps he will take to ensure that the expanded use of intervention and call-in powers does not weaken legitimate local democratic oversight of planning decisions, particularly in Green Belt-heavy areas such as Aldridge-Brownhills; and whether he will confirm that any called-in application will be assessed with full regard to adopted and emerging Local Plans.
Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
The Written Ministerial Statement of 2012 sets out the circumstances in which the Secretary of State will use his powers to intervene.
All called in planning applications and appeals will continue to be considered against adopted local plans, in line with s38(6) of the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004, taking into account material planning considerations, which may include emerging Local Plans.
Proposals to determine the appropriate procedure for called-in applications would be introduced by commencing existing provisions in the Planning Act 2008.
Asked by: Jim McMahon (Labour (Co-op) - Oldham West, Chadderton and Royton)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether the government intends to review planning laws to increase support for farming business diversification in rural areas.
Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
I refer the hon. Member to the answer to Question UIN 95296 on 4 December 2025.
Asked by: Wendy Morton (Conservative - Aldridge-Brownhills)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if he will publish an assessment of the cumulative impact on the protection of Green Belt land of reducing the number of planning applications requiring advice from statutory consultees such as National Highways and Active Travel England; and what steps he will take to ensure that streamlining does not reduce the scrutiny of infrastructure, transport, or environmental pressures in constituencies such as Aldridge-Brownhills.
Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
On 17 November 2025, my Department published a consultation on reforms to the statutory consultee system. That consultation closes on 13 January 2026 and can be found on gov.uk here.
A consultation will also be carried out in due course seeking views on plans to amend and expand the 2024 Consultation Direction currently in force.
Asked by: Lee Pitcher (Labour - Doncaster East and the Isle of Axholme)
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 review planning regulations for houses in multiple occupation.
Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 22786 on 17 January 2025.
The government continues to keep permitted development rights under review.
Asked by: Baroness Northover (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask His Majesty's Government how many houses are planned to be built in the next five years in (1) Devon, (2) Essex, (3) Kent, (4) Lancashire, (5) Lincolnshire, and (6) Yorkshire.
Answered by Baroness Taylor of Stevenage - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
My Department does not hold this information as we do not forecast or project housing delivery for individual local authorities.
In December 2024 we implemented a new standard method for assessing local housing needs which aligns with the Government’s ambition for 1.5 million new homes over this parliament, and that better directs new homes to where they are most needed and least affordable.
Alongside the revised method, we published indicative local housing need figures, both for local authorities and regions, which can be found (attached) on gov.uk here.
The Government expects each local planning authority to use the revised standard method to assess local housing needs to inform plan-making. Once an assessment has been made, local authorities should take into account land availability, environmental constraints such as National Landscapes, and other relevant matters, to determine how much of the assessed housing need can be met.
Local authorities are required to adopt appropriate policies in their Local Plans to support delivery of the number, type and tenure of homes needed in their area over the lifetime of the Plan.
Our planning practice guidance on housing and economic needs assessment can be found (attached) on gov.uk here.