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 ensure that (a) all new homes are built to high standards; (b) those standards do not negatively affect the health and wellbeing of their occupants; and whether he plans to review the regulatory framework of the built environment to promote and improve health and wellbeing in communities.

It is a priority for this Government to build more high quality, environmentally friendly homes. We have committed to review the roadmap to the Future Homes Standard to ensure that implementation takes place to the shortest possible timeline. We have already consulted on a meaningful and achievable interim increase to the energy efficiency standards for new homes as a first step towards the Future Homes Standard. We will be publishing the Government response to this consultation as soon as possible, which will include a roadmap to the Future Homes Standard.

The National Planning Policy Framework encourages developments that promote health and well-being, with a high standard of amenity for existing and future users. It says that planning policies should assess the need for different types of open space in each area, and then seek to accommodate it. In their report the Building Better, Building Beautiful Commission made nature one of their priority themes and noted that green spaces should be integral to the urban fabric. MHCLG welcomes their recommendations and looks forward to responding to their report in due course.

The Planning for the Future White Paper includes a proposal by Government to enable more and better green spaces in development. The consultation closed on 29 October 2020 and we are currently considering the responses received. The Government will publish a response in due course which will set out any decisions and associated proposed implementation.

The supporting National Design Guide recognises that well-designed homes and buildings support the health and wellbeing of their users and all who experience them. The forthcoming government guidance on local Design Codes will set out more detailed parameters for key elements of successful design.