Asked by: Oliver Dowden (Conservative - Hertsmere)
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 local planning authorities on efficiently preparing Article 4 directions under the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 for houses in multiple occupation.
Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
The procedure for Local Planning Authorities (LPAs) to make an Article 4 direction is laid out in Schedule 3 of The Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) (England) Order 2015, which is available on gov.uk here.
Additional guidance can be found in the “When is permission required?” Planning Practice Guidance, which is available on gov.uk here.
My Department engages with LPAs in respect of Article 4 directions on an ongoing basis.
Asked by: Jess Brown-Fuller (Liberal Democrat - Chichester)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what estimate his Department has made of the number of properties that have had planning permission for over six months yet no building work has yet commenced.
Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 122315 on 1 April 2026.
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, if he will place in the Library a copy of the formal third-party representations submitted in response to the Special Development Order planning application for Universal Studios.
Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
I refer the Rt Hon. Member to the answers given to Questions UIN 81310 on 28 October 2025 and UIN 87785 on 17 November 2025.
Asked by: Neil Coyle (Labour - Bermondsey and Old Southwark)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether he plans to make it a requirement for local planning authorities to take into account the need to replace or upgrade existing rooftop telecommunications equipment when determining planning applications.
Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
Between 18 December 2025 and 26 February 2026, the government undertook a call for evidence in respect of reforming planning rules to accelerate deployment of digital infrastructure. It can be found on gov.uk here.
We are currently analysing the feedback received with a view to determining next steps, which may include consulting on draft measures and, where appropriate, bringing forward necessary legislation.
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 23 March 2026, to Question 120060, on Chinese Embassy: Planning Permission, why the Section 106 agreement published on the Tower Hamlets website, INQ34, Royal Mint Court Completed S106, 1 May 2025, has not been updated with the amendments to the Section 106 agreement made in the Secretary of State’s decision notice on the called-in planning application.
Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
The Secretary of State’s conclusions in respect of the S106 Agreement are at Paragraphs 111-121 of the published decision letter, which can be found on gov.uk here.
Implementation of the said Agreement, in line with the Secretary of State's decision, is a matter for the parties to it.
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 Written Statement of 18 November 2025, HCWS1062, on Next phase of planning reform, what the status and timetable is for the (a) new Consultation Direction and a change to legislation and (b) revised call-in and recovery policy.
Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
A new Consultation Direction was published on 31 March 2026, following the legislative change made by the Town and Country (Development Management Procedure) (England) Order 2015 (S.I. 2015/595). The Direction can be found on gov.uk here.
A revised call-in and recovery policy will follow in due course. Until then, I refer the Rt Hon. Member to the policy set out in the Written Ministerial Statement made on 26 October 2012, which continues to apply and can be found here.
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 9 Match 2026 to Question 116487 on Local Plans and Planning Permission, what (a) advice and (b) guidance has been issued to Ministers on predetermination in called-in planning applications, and recovered planning appeals and Special Development Orders; and whether predetermination applies to decisions to use the call-in and recovery process prior to any substantive decision on the application.
Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
Published guidance on propriety in respect of planning casework decisions can be found here. The principles set out in the guidance apply to decisions to use the call-in and recovery process as well as to substantive decisions.
Asked by: Adam Jogee (Labour - Newcastle-under-Lyme)
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 is taking with Cabinet colleagues to support colleges and further education institutions applying for planning permission to expand their sites.
Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
There is an existing Permitted Development Right – Part 7 of Class M of the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) (England) Order 2015 – which allows colleges and universities to erect new buildings, extensions and make alterations without the submission of a planning application. The right is subject to limits and conditions to control local impacts.
The National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) makes clear that local planning authorities should take a proactive, positive, and collaborative approach to ensuring that a sufficient choice of post-16 places are available to meet the needs of existing and new communities.
Between 16 December 2025 and 10 March 2026, the government consulted a new National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF). The consultation on the revised Framework, which can be found on gov.uk here, included proposals relating to education facilities. We are currently analysing the feedback received and will publish our response in due course.
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 February 2026, to Question 111684, on Recreation Spaces: Planning Permission, what is the status and timetable for publishing the public consultation on the review in the legal framework of protections for public recreational space.
Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
I refer the Rt Hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 111684 on 24 February 2026.
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 13 March 2026, to Question 117738, on Planning Permission, whether his Department holds a working list of which councils have Article 4 directions in force, based on the copies that councils are required to send to and notify the department.
Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
I refer the Rt Hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 117738 on 13 March 2026.