Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether he plans to issue new guidance to planning authorities on the proportion of affordable homes in any new development on which they can insist; and if he will make a statement.

It is the role of local authorities to set out in plans the scale and type of housing, including affordable housing, required in their area. The draft National Planning Policy Framework and associated guidance was published in March. This makes clear that local plans should set clear policy requirements for affordable housing. This is supported by a standardised way of assessing local housing need and a new approach to viability.