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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to the press release entitled Red tape slashed to revamp high streets with new cafes and bars, published on 26 July 2025, whether her Department plans to make changes to the agent of change principle in the National Planning Policy Framework.

Following the recommendation made in the Licensing Taskforce report published in July, the government is exploring whether the ‘agent of change’ principle in the licensing regime should be strengthened to better protect existing licensed premises and residents.

We intend to explore how we can improve the implementation of the ‘agent of change’ principle in the planning system, and will consult on a new set of national policies for decision-making later this year.