Asked by: Imran Hussain (Labour - Bradford East)
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 updating planning guidance to support the delivery of green jobs and clean growth in regions such as West Yorkshire.
Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
The National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) sets out that the purpose of the planning system is to contribute to the achievement of sustainable development, including the provision of supporting infrastructure in a sustainable manner. It also supports the increased provision and modernisation of various types of public infrastructure.
The NPPF is also clear that new development, including commercial development, should be planned for in ways that reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Local development plans should identify opportunities for development to draw its energy supply from decentralised, renewable, or low carbon energy supply systems.
Between 16 December 2025 and 10 March 2026, the government consulted on a new NPPF which includes clearer, ‘rules based’ policies for decision-making and plan-making and that would give substantial weight is given to the economic benefits of planning applications for commercial development.
The consultation on the revised Framework, which can be found on gov.uk here, set out how planning policies and decisions can make a positive contribution to mitigating and adapting to climate change and emphasised the importance of improving renewable and low carbon energy infrastructure.
We are currently analysing the feedback received and will publish our response in due course.
Asked by: Imran Hussain (Labour - Bradford East)
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 impact of the planning system on the timely delivery of commercial developments that support local economic growth.
Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
The National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) sets out that the purpose of the planning system is to contribute to the achievement of sustainable development, including the provision of supporting infrastructure in a sustainable manner. It also supports the increased provision and modernisation of various types of public infrastructure.
The NPPF is also clear that new development, including commercial development, should be planned for in ways that reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Local development plans should identify opportunities for development to draw its energy supply from decentralised, renewable, or low carbon energy supply systems.
Between 16 December 2025 and 10 March 2026, the government consulted on a new NPPF which includes clearer, ‘rules based’ policies for decision-making and plan-making and that would give substantial weight is given to the economic benefits of planning applications for commercial development.
The consultation on the revised Framework, which can be found on gov.uk here, set out how planning policies and decisions can make a positive contribution to mitigating and adapting to climate change and emphasised the importance of improving renewable and low carbon energy infrastructure.
We are currently analysing the feedback received and will publish our response in due course.
Asked by: Imran Hussain (Labour - Bradford East)
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 to support local authorities to plan for low-carbon commercial development, including access to energy and transport infrastructure.
Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
The National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) sets out that the purpose of the planning system is to contribute to the achievement of sustainable development, including the provision of supporting infrastructure in a sustainable manner. It also supports the increased provision and modernisation of various types of public infrastructure.
The NPPF is also clear that new development, including commercial development, should be planned for in ways that reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Local development plans should identify opportunities for development to draw its energy supply from decentralised, renewable, or low carbon energy supply systems.
Between 16 December 2025 and 10 March 2026, the government consulted on a new NPPF which includes clearer, ‘rules based’ policies for decision-making and plan-making and that would give substantial weight is given to the economic benefits of planning applications for commercial development.
The consultation on the revised Framework, which can be found on gov.uk here, set out how planning policies and decisions can make a positive contribution to mitigating and adapting to climate change and emphasised the importance of improving renewable and low carbon energy infrastructure.
We are currently analysing the feedback received and will publish our response in due course.
Asked by: Sarah Hall (Labour (Co-op) - Warrington South)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps his Department is taking to increase the supply of homes for social rent.
Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
I refer the hon. Member to the Written Ministerial Statements made on 2 July 2025 (HCWS771) and 28 January 2026 (HCWS1283).
Asked by: Perran Moon (Labour - Camborne and Redruth)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what oversight exists to ensure that housebuilders’ commitments to the Competition and Markets Authority regarding estate management governance are being delivered in practice, and what recourse is available to residents where those commitments are not being met.
Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
I refer the hon. Member to the Written Ministerial Statement made on 18 December 2025 (HCWS1210).
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 steps he is taking to raise the standards of rented properties in Hertsmere.
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 115497 on 4 March 2026 and to the Written Ministerial Statement on 28 January 2026 (HCWS1283).
Asked by: Neil Duncan-Jordan (Labour - Poole)
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 impact of the HC6 policy on pubs.
Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 105500 on 20 January 2026.
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 steps he is taking to ensure tenants living in Clarion Housing properties have issues resolved in an adequate and timely manner.
Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
I refer the Rt Hon. Member to the Written Ministerial Statement made on 28 January 2026 (HCWS1283).
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 steps he is taking to ensure tenants living in Clarion Housing properties have adequate and safe homes.
Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
I refer the Rt Hon. Member to the Written Ministerial Statement made on 28 January 2026 (HCWS1283).
Asked by: David Simmonds (Conservative - Ruislip, Northwood and Pinner)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what will happen to the Best Value interventions in Surrey when the district councils are abolished; and whether there will be any central government monitoring or intervention in the new unitary councils in relation to the legacy issues.
Answered by Alison McGovern - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
The current Best Value arrangements for Woking and Spelthorne Borough Councils will lapse on West Surrey’s vesting day, due in April 2027, as these councils will be abolished. Commissioners are developing robust handover plans to facilitate a smooth transition into West Surrey. We are working with Commissioners and local stakeholders to consider how the new Council can effectively manage legacy issues moving forward, and what support it will need to deliver for its residents.
We are clear that Woking Borough Council’s debt cannot be managed in full locally. Further to our unprecedented commitment to repay in-principle an initial £500m of Woking Borough Council’s debt in 2026-27, we are committed to providing interim financial support to the new council until a final decision is made. It is crucial that any debt support must consider value for money for local and national taxpayers.