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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether the New Homes Bonus can be used for local authority general revenue budget expenditure.

The New Homes Bonus is un-ringfenced so authorities can choose how to allocate funding to meet local priorities, for example on frontline services or keeping council tax down, as we recognise that local authorities are in the best position to make decisions about local priorities. The Government does not monitor how local authorities utilise New Homes Bonus funding but it is expected that local authorities engage with their local communities to decide how the money is spent, so residents feel the direct benefits of growth.