Asked by: Al Pinkerton (Liberal Democrat - Surrey Heath)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what (a) protections and (b) guidance his Department will provide to mayoral candidates for new unitary authorities in Surrey.
Answered by Alison McGovern - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
There are currently no local authority mayoralties operating in Surrey, and no mayoral elections are planned for the new unitary councils. Under provisions in the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill, any new council created through local government reorganisation will adopt the leader and cabinet model of governance.
Asked by: Al Pinkerton (Liberal Democrat - Surrey Heath)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what recent assessment he has made of the potential impact of developers reducing affordable housing delivery on levels of unmet local housing need in Surrey Heath constituency.
Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
We are consulting on changes to the National Planning Policy Framework, including proposals relating to developer contributions and viability. The changes aim to promote greater clarity about expected contributions, including those related to affordable housing, and the limited circumstances in which site-specific viability assessments may be justified.
The consultation is available here and will remain open for responses until 10 March 2026.
Asked by: Al Pinkerton (Liberal Democrat - Surrey Heath)
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 help ensure that development firms meet their agreed affordable housing commitments in Surrey Heath constituency.
Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
We are consulting on changes to the National Planning Policy Framework, including proposals relating to developer contributions and viability. The changes aim to promote greater clarity about expected contributions, including those related to affordable housing, and the limited circumstances in which site-specific viability assessments may be justified.
The consultation is available here and will remain open for responses until 10 March 2026.
Asked by: Al Pinkerton (Liberal Democrat - Surrey Heath)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what consideration is given within the planning system to the potential impact of housing developments on nearby (a) small businesses and (b) local employment.
Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
Local planning authorities are expected to assess economic needs as part of their evidence base and to consider these issues when determining individual applications, including the potential effects of new housing development on nearby businesses and on opportunities for local employment.
The National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) makes clear that planning policies and decisions should ensure that new development can be integrated effectively with existing businesses. Where the operation of an existing business or community facility could have a significant adverse effect on new development in its vicinity, the applicant (or ‘agent of change’) should be required to provide suitable mitigation before the development has been completed.
The government is currently consulting on changes to the NPPF, including updated policy on the agent of change principle so that it is more explicit about the matters to be considered and types of activity which may be affected. The consultation can be found on gov.uk here and will remain open for responses until 10 March 2026.
Asked by: Al Pinkerton (Liberal Democrat - Surrey Heath)
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 review self-regulatory arrangements for retirement housing management.
Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 68820 on 2 September 2025.
Asked by: Al Pinkerton (Liberal Democrat - Surrey Heath)
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 safeguard residents of retirement housing from (a) inappropriate or (b) unfair management practices.
Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 68820 on 2 September 2025.
Asked by: Al Pinkerton (Liberal Democrat - Surrey Heath)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what guidance is available to local authorities on assessing the social value of community facilities when determining planning applications.
Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
The National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) makes clear that to provide the social, recreational and cultural facilities and services the community needs, planning policies and decisions should plan positively for the provision and use of shared spaces, community facilities (such as local shops, meeting places, sports venues, open space, cultural buildings, public houses and places of worship) and other local services to enhance the sustainability of communities and residential environments.
The NPPF is also clear that local planning policies and decisions should guard against the unnecessary loss of valued facilities and services.
The government is currently consulting on further reforms to the NPPF to provide for clearer, more rules-based policies for decision-making and plan-making. This includes policies relating to community facilities. The consultation can be found on gov.uk here and will remain open for responses until 10 March 2026.
Asked by: Al Pinkerton (Liberal Democrat - Surrey Heath)
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 provide additional funding to support brownfield site development in Surrey Heath constituency.
Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
The Surrey Heath constituency has so far received a total funding of £1,480,300 from the Brownfield Land Release Fund 2 to release land for 132 homes.
Our delivery partner OPE monitor progress and provide practical and technical support to deliver new homes on derelict and underused brownfield land in the Surrey Heath constituency and is responsible for continued engagement with Surrey Heath Borough Council on brownfield site development.
The government has also announced £5bn of capital grant funding for infrastructure and land through the new National Housing Delivery Fund. This Fund will be fully operational from 1 April 2026 and will complement investment from the new National Housing Bank.
Asked by: Al Pinkerton (Liberal Democrat - Surrey Heath)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what discussions his Department has had with Surrey Heath Borough Council on brownfield site development in Surrey Heath constituency.
Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
The Surrey Heath constituency has so far received a total funding of £1,480,300 from the Brownfield Land Release Fund 2 to release land for 132 homes.
Our delivery partner OPE monitor progress and provide practical and technical support to deliver new homes on derelict and underused brownfield land in the Surrey Heath constituency and is responsible for continued engagement with Surrey Heath Borough Council on brownfield site development.
The government has also announced £5bn of capital grant funding for infrastructure and land through the new National Housing Delivery Fund. This Fund will be fully operational from 1 April 2026 and will complement investment from the new National Housing Bank.
Asked by: Al Pinkerton (Liberal Democrat - Surrey Heath)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what recent estimate his Department has of the number of council homes in Surrey Heath constituency.
Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
My Department does not collect data on the number of council homes at a constituency level.
Information on the number of council homes owned by local authorities is available in Live Table 116 which can be found on gov.uk here.