Asked by: Tom Morrison (Liberal Democrat - Cheadle)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to ensure there will be sufficient (a) GPs, (b) hospitals and (c) other healthcare facilities for the potential new town in Adlington, Cheshire East.
Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
Integrated care boards (ICBs) are responsible for commissioning health care services within their regions. This includes ensuring service providers are able to meet the reasonable needs of their patient population. Where necessary, ICBs can commission local enhanced services which can vary in scope and funding, to fit the needs of the patient population.
We recognise the challenges facing areas of significant housing and population growth and the pressure that this can place upon local health infrastructure, including primary care.
Local planning authorities are responsible for negotiating and agreeing developer contributions to support necessary associated infrastructure when new housing developments are built, including GP practices and primary care provision.
The Department of Health and Social Care is working closely with the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government to determine how developer contributions from new housing developments can be better used towards local health services and infrastructure.
Asked by: Jas Athwal (Labour - Ilford South)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps she is taking to help reduce barriers to home ownership in London for first-time buyers.
Answered by Lucy Rigby - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)
The most sustainable long-term method to improve housing affordability and help people into homeownership is to increase the supply of housing. The government is committed to building 1.5 million homes this parliament (compared to the 1 million homes delivered the last parliament). In December, we announced major changes to the National Planning Policy Framework, including the restoration of mandatory housing targets and changes to allow development on ‘grey belt’. These reforms were forecast by the OBR to deliver 170,000 additional homes and add £6.8bn to the economy by 2029/30.
We have worked with the FCA and the Bank of England, who have clarified and increased the flexibility of their mortgage regulations. This is helping more customers – especially first-time buyers – to borrow what they need to buy the homes they want, while retaining protections so that lending remains affordable and responsible.
Asked by: Jas Athwal (Labour - Ilford South)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps she is taking to help first-time buyers in (a) London and (b) general.
Answered by Lucy Rigby - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)
The most sustainable long-term method to improve housing affordability and help people into homeownership is to increase the supply of housing. The government is committed to building 1.5 million homes this parliament (compared to the 1 million homes delivered the last parliament). In December, we announced major changes to the National Planning Policy Framework, including the restoration of mandatory housing targets and changes to allow development on ‘grey belt’. These reforms were forecast by the OBR to deliver 170,000 additional homes and add £6.8bn to the economy by 2029/30.
We have worked with the FCA and the Bank of England, who have clarified and increased the flexibility of their mortgage regulations. This is helping more customers – especially first-time buyers – to borrow what they need to buy the homes they want, while retaining protections so that lending remains affordable and responsible.
Asked by: Caroline Voaden (Liberal Democrat - South Devon)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent discussions she has had with the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government on the potential impact of the Planning and Infrastructure Bill on levels of protection for national parks.
Answered by Mary Creagh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
Government remains committed to safeguarding our National Parks and National Landscapes and enabling Protected Landscapes organisations to make land greener, wilder, and more accessible to all.
Asked by: Andrew Snowden (Conservative - Fylde)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment her Department has made of trends in the level of unadopted roads on new housing developments due to developers.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
Following the publication of the Competition and Markets Authority’s Housebuilding Market Study in February 2024, the Department has noted a downward trend in road adoption rates across England, particularly in areas with new housing developments. In response, the Department is undertaking research into the road adoption process under the Highways Act 1980 to assess the scale of the issue nationally and identify opportunities to improve the system to reverse the downward trend. Additionally, the Department is working closely with the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) to explore reforms to the planning process that support more effective road adoption outcomes.
Asked by: Calum Miller (Liberal Democrat - Bicester and Woodstock)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what his timetable is for reaching a decision on the planning application made by Oxford United Football Club to build a new stadium at the Triangle, south of Kidlington.
Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
A decision not to call in the planning application for a new Oxford United stadium was issued on 15 October. The application therefore remains with Cherwell District Council for determination.
Asked by: Alex Brewer (Liberal Democrat - North East Hampshire)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of making local fire services statutory consultees for industrial lithium-ion battery storage planning permission applications.
Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
In January 2025 the government 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 details can be found in the Written Ministerial Statement made on 10 March 2025 (HCWS510).
Planning Practice Guidance encourages developers and local planning authorities to engage with local fire and rescue services and National Fire Chiefs Council guidance in relation to battery energy storage systems.
Asked by: Samantha Niblett (Labour - South Derbyshire)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on sites intended for building that have previously been used as dumps for fly ash.
Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
The National Planning Policy Framework is clear that planning policies and decisions should ensure that a site is suitable for its proposed use taking account of ground conditions and any risks arising from land instability and contamination. This includes risks arising from natural hazards or former activities such as mining, and any proposals for mitigation including land remediation (as well as potential impacts on the natural environment arising from that remediation). My Department continues to work closely with the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on matters relating to meeting our shared ambition to deliver 1.5 million new homes in this Parliament while improving and protecting the environment.
Asked by: Max Wilkinson (Liberal Democrat - Cheltenham)
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 assessment of the potential impact of property businesses that do not adequately renovate town centre commercial properties on economic growth.
Answered by Miatta Fahnbulleh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
There are no plans to make such an assessment. However, the National Planning Policy Framework supports the role of high streets and town centres, by expecting local plans to create a positive framework for their growth and adaptation.
This Government is fully committed to rejuvenating our high streets. To address the blight of vacancy, the Government has implemented High Street Rental Auctions, which empowers local authorities in England to auction the lease of persistently vacant commercial high street properties.
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 11 September 2025 to Question 75625 on Building: Safety, if he will make it his policy to intervene in the London Plan to remove regulatory requirements on new build housing in London that do not apply across the rest of England.
Answered by Samantha Dixon - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
Building regulations are set nationally under the Building Act 1984 and apply uniformly across England, but local authorities, including those in London may apply additional planning or enforcement measures.
The Department continues to work closely with the Greater London Authority and other stakeholders to ensure that building safety reforms are implemented consistently and proportionately across all regions. We keep regional impacts under review as part of our ongoing engagement with the Building Safety Regulator and future updates to guidance.