Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of introducing a requirement for large-scale housing developments to have sufficient childcare facilities available in the local area before planning permission is granted.

Local authorities have a duty to secure early years childcare provision free of charge under the Childcare Acts of 2006 and 2016. All new primary schools are now expected to include a nursery, and many schools and other providers offer childcare for school-age children outside of school hours.

Local planning authorities can secure contributions from developers through Section 106 agreements or use the Community Infrastructure Levy to contribute towards providing new or expanded childcare facilities when needed. Under the new Infrastructure Levy, which is being introduced through the Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill, local authorities will be able to continue to use developer contributions for this purpose.