Asked by: Baroness Lister of Burtersett (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the extent to which children living in poverty have unequal access to trees and green spaces compared to other children and of the implications for their health and well being; and what steps they are taking to address any such inequality as part of the child poverty strategy.
Answered by Baroness Smith of Malvern - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
The Child Poverty Strategy recognises that place is fundamental to child poverty, shaping the environment in which children grow up, and the opportunities parents have to provide for their children. Access to green space is a key part of this, providing opportunities for play, physical activity, social interaction and improved mental wellbeing, supporting healthier childhood development and life outcomes.
Local people know best what change is needed and empowering local areas to improve outcomes and opportunities for children is a fundamental principle of the strategy. Through the Pride in Place Programme, we will invest £5.8 billion in 284 communities over the next decade. Communities will develop plans for the future of their areas based on local priorities, which could include creating and improving green spaces.
The Pride in Place Impact Fund will also provide up to £150 million of funding to 95 places to support the development of community spaces, public spaces (including parks and playgrounds) and to revitalise local high streets. The £18 million Playgrounds Fund will improve children’s access to safe, inclusive, high‑quality local play spaces in communities where there is the greatest need.
This sits alongside Best Start Family Hubs, the Better Futures Fund and wider investment in local services and neighbourhoods.
Asked by: Oliver Dowden (Conservative - Hertsmere)
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 make an estimate of the number of new parks required by 2033 to maintain present levels of provision per person; and what steps his Department is taking to support the creation of recreational spaces in areas of identified need.
Answered by Nesil Caliskan
The Department has not made a formal assessment of the number of additional parks required by 2033 to maintain current provision per head.
MHCLG is supporting the creation of green and recreational spaces through the planning system. Planning policies should be based on robust and up-to-date assessments of the need for open space, sport and recreation facilities (including quantitative or qualitative deficits or surpluses) and opportunities for new provision. Information gained from the assessments should be used to determine what open space, sport and recreational provision is needed, which plans should then seek to accommodate.
MHCLG works with the parks sector through the Parks Working Group, bringing together national and local partners to develop practical solutions to improve the quality, sustainability and accessibility of parks and green spaces. The government also supports provision of parks through the Green Flag Award, which sets the national standard and has transformed thousands of parks across the country.
In 2023, Natural England published the Green Infrastructure Framework, a tool to help towns and cities turn greener. The Framework is aimed at planners and developers and intends to increase the amount of green cover to 40% in urban residential areas.
Furthermore, the government believes that a new generation of new towns is essential to address England’s structural housing crisis, unlock economic growth and increase access to green space. Final decisions on New Towns locations will be taken once consultation responses have been considered and all necessary environmental assessments are complete, informed by the Taskforce’s advice on infrastructure, public services and green space required to create well-connected and sustainable towns.
Asked by: Chris Coghlan (Liberal Democrat - Dorking and Horley)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what progress she has made in fulfilling Commitment 86 in the 2025 Environmental Improvement Plan to make sure that everyone has access to green or blue spaces within a 15-minute walk from home.
Answered by Mary Creagh
This Government is committed to reducing physical and intangible barriers to accessing nature and ensuring everyone lives within a 15-minute walk of a green or blue space.
As set out in the Environmental Improvement Plan (EIP), progress towards meeting these commitments is being made through work happening across government to both increase available natural space and make it more accessible. For example, the Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government's National Planning Policy Framework reform and Natural England’s Green Infrastructure Framework.
Actions being delivered by Defra include: the launch of the Wainwright Coast to Coast route and the King Charles III England Coast Path, creating nine new National River Walks, establishing three new National Forests, and publishing an Access to Nature Green Paper to explore further opportunities to enhance and expand access to green and blue spaces. Defra is also strengthening legislation to give National Parks and National Landscapes a clear mandate to widen the public’s access to nature by the end of this Parliament and publishing further details on supporting access to woodlands in a new Trees Action Plan.
Progress on delivery of the EIP will be set out in due course.
Asked by: Baroness Scott of Needham Market (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to fulfil commitment 87 in the Environmental Improvement Plan 2025 to reduce physical barriers to accessing green and blue spaces.
Answered by Baroness Hayman of Ullock - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
This Government is committed to reducing physical and intangible barriers to accessing nature and ensuring everyone lives within a 15-minute walk of a green or blue space.
As set out in the Environmental Improvement Plan (EIP), progress towards meeting these commitments is being made through work happening across government to both increase available natural space and make it more accessible. For example, the Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government's National Planning Policy Framework reform and Natural England’s Green Infrastructure Framework.
Actions being delivered by Defra include: the launch of the Wainwright Coast to Coast route and the King Charles III England Coast Path, creating nine new National River Walks, establishing three new National Forests, and publishing an Access to Nature Green Paper to explore further opportunities to enhance and expand access to green and blue spaces. Defra is also strengthening legislation to give National Parks and National Landscapes a clear mandate to widen the public’s access to nature by the end of this Parliament and publishing further details on supporting access to woodlands in a new Trees Action Plan.
Progress on delivery of the EIP will be set out in due course.
Asked by: James Cleverly (Conservative - Braintree)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the answer of 19 May 2026, to Question 447, on Recreation Space, which stakeholders he plans to consult; what is his planned timetable for the review; and whether he plans to receive representations from (a) principal councils and (b) parish councils.
Answered by Nesil Caliskan
For the review of the legislative protections of public recreational green spaces, we expect to engage with representatives of local government, including principal and parish councils, as well as the parks and green spaces and development sectors.
There are no current plans to publish the terms of reference for the review of legislative protections of public recreation green spaces. The government has previously stated that the review will examine the fragmented and outdated nature of current legislative protections for public recreational green spaces, assess how these protections complement those in the planning system, and consider the lack of central records on protected land.
The review is not a formal consultation but we will engage a wide range of stakeholders to understand how the current framework operates in practice. It is expected that findings will be published by spring 2027.
The review will identify options to improve clarity, coherence and accessibility of the legislative framework, informing future policy development.
Asked by: James Cleverly (Conservative - Braintree)
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 answer of 24 February 2026 to Question 111684 on Recreation Spaces: Planning Permission, whether he plans to introduce primary legislation to facilitate reforms.
Answered by Nesil Caliskan
For the review of the legislative protections of public recreational green spaces, we expect to engage with representatives of local government, including principal and parish councils, as well as the parks and green spaces and development sectors.
There are no current plans to publish the terms of reference for the review of legislative protections of public recreation green spaces. The government has previously stated that the review will examine the fragmented and outdated nature of current legislative protections for public recreational green spaces, assess how these protections complement those in the planning system, and consider the lack of central records on protected land.
The review is not a formal consultation but we will engage a wide range of stakeholders to understand how the current framework operates in practice. It is expected that findings will be published by spring 2027.
The review will identify options to improve clarity, coherence and accessibility of the legislative framework, informing future policy development.
Asked by: James Cleverly (Conservative - Braintree)
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 answer of 11 December 2025 to Question HL12896 on Recreation Spaces: Planning Permission, when the terms of reference of the review and public consultation will be published.
Answered by Nesil Caliskan
For the review of the legislative protections of public recreational green spaces, we expect to engage with representatives of local government, including principal and parish councils, as well as the parks and green spaces and development sectors.
There are no current plans to publish the terms of reference for the review of legislative protections of public recreation green spaces. The government has previously stated that the review will examine the fragmented and outdated nature of current legislative protections for public recreational green spaces, assess how these protections complement those in the planning system, and consider the lack of central records on protected land.
The review is not a formal consultation but we will engage a wide range of stakeholders to understand how the current framework operates in practice. It is expected that findings will be published by spring 2027.
The review will identify options to improve clarity, coherence and accessibility of the legislative framework, informing future policy development.
Asked by: James Cleverly (Conservative - Braintree)
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 written statement of 21 May 2026, HCWS59, on Neighbourhoods and Public Services, what is the legislative basis for the Community Power Pilots; and what comparative assessment he has made of the powers available to (a) these pilots and (b) councils.
Answered by Nesil Caliskan
Community Power Pilots will not be implemented on a legislative basis. We will invite local authorities in up to 25 areas with community groups and service users to come forward with proposals to co-design solutions to local problems within existing legislation. This could include ideas for supporting young people, making communities safer, improving social housing, parks and green spaces, or other priorities local people want to address. The pilot programme will be backed with £15 million in funding. We will publish further information on Community Power Pilots in due course.
Asked by: Adam Jogee (Labour - Newcastle-under-Lyme)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps he is taking with cabinet colleagues to improve the a) safety and b) provision of playgrounds for young people in Newcastle-under-Lyme.
Answered by Miatta Fahnbulleh - Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero
Local authorities work locally to support adults and children to lead more active lives through access to nature, parks, and play spaces. We are investing in local government. The Spending Review 2025 provides over £5 billion of new grant funding over the next three years for local services that communities rely on. This includes £3.4 billion of new grant funding which will be delivered through the Settlement for 2026-27 to 2028-29.
Between 16 December 2025 and 10 March 2026, we consulted on changes to the National Planning Policy Framework. That consultation, which can be found on gov.uk here, included proposals relating to the provision of play space. The government has recently published a draft update to national design guidance, which emphasises that development proposals should maximise the potential for play in the layout, form and appearance of development. In terms of safety, owners and operators of playgrounds are required to comply with existing legal requirements as applicable.
Government also owns the Green Flag Award scheme, which helps to increase access to quality green spaces and parks; sets the standard for those spaces to meet the needs of the communities they serve and has helped to transform thousands of spaces across the country. This includes many parks across Newcastle-under-Lyme, such as Bathpool Park, Brampton Park and Lyme Valley Park.
Asked by: James McMurdock (Independent - South Basildon and East Thurrock)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with local authorities including (a) Thurrock, (b) Basildon, and (c) Essex councils on bringing wildlife restoration projects into suburban and rural communities.
Answered by Mary Creagh
Essex has a wealth of wildlife and holds a wide variety of nature-rich habitats, including some that are unique to this part of England.
As one of 48 Responsible Authorities appointed by the Secretary of State, Essex County Council published its Local Nature Recovery Strategy in July 2025. These strategies propose actions to improve, expand and connect nature, in both rural and urban areas. Natural England has a statutory role, providing bespoke advice and quality assurance to each LNRS, and continues to support Essex County Council as this strategy now moves into a planning and delivery phase.
The proposed actions and priorities for improving and connecting nature and greenspace in urban areas, both for the benefit of wildlife and for communities, are set out in chapters 6 and 9 of the Essex Local Nature Recovery Strategy.
The development of Essex’s Local Nature Recovery Strategy has been supported by 14 Borough and District Councils which have contributed local data and expertise, including local wildlife site data and species records. These Supporting Authorities include Thurrock Council, Basildon Borough Council, Southend-on-Sea, Chelmsford and Colchester.
In the Thurrock area Natural England has been advising and engaging with a number of stakeholders including Thurrock Council, major infrastructure projects and other developers on how to secure long-term thriving nature alongside economic growth opportunities.
Natural England’s Sustainable Development leads are advising 14 local authorities across Essex on nature and green space through the Local Plan process, including both Basildon and Thurrock. Essex County Council has developed a Green Infrastructure Strategy which provides guidance for Planning Authorities within the county. Colchester and Southend-on-Sea are both prioritising Green Infrastructure within their Local Plans. Green Infrastructure is the term for multi-functional green spaces such as parks, gardens, wildlife areas, waterways and drainage systems which can deliver benefits for nature, for people and economic prosperity.