Asked by: Jim Shannon (Democratic Unionist Party - Strangford)
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 improve the planning system.
Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
The government published a revised pro-growth National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) on 12 December 2024.
The Planning and Infrastructure Bill will help speed up and streamline the delivery of new homes and critical infrastructure.
It remains our intention to consult on a new suite of national policies for decision making before the end of the year.
Asked by: Jim Shannon (Democratic Unionist Party - Strangford)
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 improve housing provision.
Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
The government is taking concerted action to improve housing provision in England including reforming the planning system and record grant funding support for social and affordable housebuilding.
Housing is a devolved matter within the competency of the Northern Ireland Assembly.
Asked by: Jim Shannon (Democratic Unionist Party - Strangford)
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 hold housing developers accountable for defects in newly built homes.
Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
I refer the hon. Member to the answers given to Questions UIN 71818 on 3 September 2025 and UIN 37745 on 19 March 2025.
Asked by: Jim Shannon (Democratic Unionist Party - Strangford)
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 Northern Ireland Executive on the number of families in temporary accommodation.
Answered by Alison McGovern - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
I regularly discuss homelessness issues with my counterparts in the devolved administrations and most recently met the Minister for Communities on Tuesday 25 November.
Asked by: Jim Shannon (Democratic Unionist Party - Strangford)
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 include provisions in the forthcoming National Development Management Policies to increase the number of stepping stone housing models across local authority areas.
Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
We will consult later this year on a suite of new national policies for decision-making. Further details will be set out in due course.