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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if he will issue guidance to local planning authorities and neighbourhood planning groups on encouraging the inclusion of public access defibrillators in new housing developments.

The Government recognises the importance of improving access to automated external defibrillators (AEDs) in public spaces.

We have no current plans to require the installation of public access defibrillators in new housing developments through planning guidance or building regulations. However, we keep planning policies, guidance and building regulations under review.

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government regularly engages with other government departments on matters relating to planning policy and guidance.