Written questions by Mayer.

Communities and Local Government, what steps his Department is taking to support independent markets in town centres.

Awaiting answer.

Communities and Local Government, with reference to the Competition and Market Authority's report entitled Housebuilding market study, published on 26 February 2024, whether she plans to implement the recommendat

Awaiting answer.

Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of proposed revisions to the National Planning Policy Framework on protections for wildlife and habitats.

The Environment Act 2021 requires Ministers to have 'due regard' to the policy statement on environmental principles when making policy. This is to ensure that environmental considerations are at the heart of policymaking across government.The National Pl...

Communities and Local Government, whether his Department is taking steps to encourage councils to reduce their ownership of (a) unused and (b) underused office space.

Local authorities are independent bodies responsible for managing their own estates. Decisions regarding council offices are therefore for local authorities to make rather than MHCLG.

Communities and Local Government, to list highway improvements funded through Government grants from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) in the East of England.

Delivery of the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) is delegated to lead local authorities who are responsible for managing the funding allocation for their area, including assessing and approving project applications, processing payments and day-to-day monitoring. As a result, MHCLG does not hold detailed project level data.

Communities and Local Government, if his Department will make an estimate of the number of (a) unused and (b) underused office space by local councils.

Local authorities are independent bodies responsible for managing their own estates. MHCLG does not hold this information centrally and is unable to make an estimate.

Communities and Local Government, what steps he is taking to ensure that Section 106 money is spent promptly.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 54059 on 6 June 2025.

Communities and Local Government, what support his Department is providing to Bedfordshire Fire and Rescue Service following the recent HMICERS report.

The government follows His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS) inspection reports closely, and thanks the Inspectorate for its recent report on Bedfordshire Fire and Rescue Service (FRS).As with all Fire and Rescue Services, we stand ready to support Bedfordshire FRS in addressing the recommendations made by HMICFRS, including working with the Inspectorate and fire sector leaders to determine any assistance that could aid the service in the delivery of the required improvements.The Department will continue to work closely with all FRSs, including Bedfordshire, to ensure they have the resources they need to protect their communities and look after their people.

Communities and Local Government, what discussions he has had with relevant stakeholders on the Competition and Markets Authority recommendations on unadopted roads in its Housebuilding Market Study, published in 2024.

My Department engages regularly with a range of stakeholders about our ongoing reforms to the leasehold system, including to freehold estates and unadopted infrastructure.This week, I met with Home Owners Rights Network to hear their views on the two comprehensive consultations launched in December seeking views on how best to implement new consumer protections for homeowners on freehold estates and the ways in which we might reduce the prevalence of privately managed estates over the coming years. For further information about those consultations, I refer the hon. Member to the Written Ministerial Statement made on 18 December 2025 (HCWS1210).

Communities and Local Government, with reference to Department for Transport guidance entitled Cycle infrastructure design (LTN 1/20), published on 27 July 2020, whether he plans to revise (a) the National Planning Policy Framework and (b) guidance to require new residential and mixed-use developments to provide high-quality permeability for walking and cycling.

The National Planning Policy Framework makes clear that transport issues should be considered from the earliest stages of plan-making and development proposals, using a vision-led approach to identify transport solutions that deliver well-designed, sustainable, and popular places. This should involve identifying and pursuing opportunities to promote walking and cycling. The Framework also outlines that when assessing sites that may be allocated in local development plans, or specific development applications, it should be ensured that sustainable transport modes are prioritised taking account of the vision for the site, the type of development and its location, and that safe and suitable access to the site can be achieved for all users. Within this context, applications for development should give priority first to pedestrian and cycle movements, both within the scheme and with neighbouring areas, and should create places that are safe, secure, and attractive and which minimise scope for conflicts between pedestrians, cyclists, and vehicles. We are currently consulting on changes to the Framework, including updated policies on sustainable transport which seek to further embed a vision-led approach to transport planning. The consultation will remain open for responses until 10 March 2026 and can be found on gov.uk here.

Communities and Local Government, with reference to his Department's Pride in Place Programme phase 2 methodology note, published on 25 September 2025, if he will publish the full ranked list of neighbourhoods for Step 3.

On 25 September the Government announced its flagship Pride in Place Programme, supporting 244 of Great Britain’s most in need neighbourhoods with up to £20m each over the next decade. This will serve as the cornerstone of this Government’s support for communities, incorporating the existing 25 trailblazer areas announced at Spending Review and the 75 Plan for Neighbourhoods programme areas that were announced in March. New areas across England were selected using a robust, metrics-based methodology based on deprivation (the Index of Multiple Deprivation) and community need (the Community Needs Index) to identify areas with the poorest social and economic outcomes. The full list of areas and place selection methodology was published and is set out at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/pride-in-place-programme-place-selection-methodology-note. We will not be publishing a further ranked list of Pride in Place Programme neighbourhoods.

Communities and Local Government, what estimate he has made of the cost to his Department of extreme weather related to climate change since 1 January 2020.

The government’s third UK Climate Change Risk Assessment (CCRA3),published in 2021 under the UK Climate Change Act 2008, includes a Monetary Valuation of Risks and Opportunities assessment of the current and future costs of climate change to the UK. A 2022 study from the London School of Economics’ Grantham Institute estimates that with current policies, the total UK cost of climate damage is equivalent to 1.1% of GDP currently. For estimating future costs of extreme weather, decisions on key government spending are subject to clear requirements through the Green Book. This includes supplementary guidance which covers the impacts of climate change, i.e. accounting for the effects of climate change. This ensures policies, programmes and projects are resilient to the effects and future costs of climate change, and that such effects are being taken fully into account when appraising policy options. The Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) has not estimated the costs of extreme weather related to climate change in our policy remit. MHCLG’s emergency response and recovery planning considers a suite of risks covered by the National Security Risk Assessment. Risks of which those associated with climate change form a part.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 17 September 2025 to Question 76124 on Planning: Empty Property, if his Department will make an assessment of the adequacy of existing national planning policy and guidance in relation to meanwhile use.

My Department has no plans to make such an assessment. The Town and Country Planning (Use Classes) Order 1987, as amended, groups common uses of land and buildings into classes. The uses within each class are, for planning purposes, considered to be broadly similar to one another, providing flexibility to change use within a use class. There are also a range of nationally set permitted development rights which allow for the temporary change of use of buildings between different use classes. Guidance on these is set out at gov.uk.

Communities and Local Government, with reference to his Department's Pride in Place Programme phase 2 methodology note, published on 25 September 2025, if he will publish the scores of the ranked list of neighbourhoods in England.

On 25 September the Government announced its flagship Pride in Place Programme, supporting up to 244 of Great Britain’s most in need neighbourhoods with up to £20 million each over the next decade. This will serve as the cornerstone of this Government’s support for communities, incorporating the existing 25 trailblazer areas announced at Spending Review and the 75 Plan for Neighbourhoods programme areas that were announced in March.New areas across England were selected using a robust, metrics-based methodology based on deprivation (the Index of Multiple Deprivation) and community need (the Community Needs Index) to identify areas with the poorest social and economic outcomes. We’re working closely with devolved governments to make sure funding supports local priorities everywhere. Further details on our approach in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland will follow.In the place selection methodology note, we list areas by the number of neighbourhoods they have that will receive funding as part of this programme – as per column 2. This gives an indication of the neighbourhoods/areas that have gained the most as part of this programme.The full list of areas and place selection methodology is in the methodology note: Pride in Place Programme Phase 2: Methodology note.

Communities and Local Government, what assessment her Department has made of the adequacy of existing national planning policy and guidance in relation to meanwhile use.

My Department has made no such an assessment. The government recognises the important role that meanwhile use can play in activating empty high street units, including through pop-up shops and community hubs, while longer-term plans are developed.

Communities and Local Government, what steps her Department is taking to encourage local authorities to undertake high street rental auctions.

The government is working with eleven early adopter councils who are taking steps to implement High Street Rental Auction powers to showcase their benefits and provide a source of best practice for other councils. My officials are also providing practical support and guidance to other councils and we have made up to £1 million available in 2025/26 to support the creation of vacancy registers and fund property refurbishments, as well as new burdens funding for local authority administrative costs.

Communities and Local Government, what her Department's planned timetable is for reviewing the national wildfire framework.

The Government is taking a joined-up approach to enhancing resilience to wildfires. Prior to the transfer of fire functions to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG), the Home Office convened a number of stakeholder workshops with the Department for Environment, Food, and Rural Affairs (Defra), its agencies, and other stakeholders to identify policy options for addressing wildfire risk. This included reviewing existing frameworks and governance. The outcomes of this work are currently being considered.Improvements are being driven in wildfire data collection through the introduction of the new Fire and Rescue Data Platform – a new incident reporting tool used by Fire and Rescue Services. This will introduce a formal definition for ‘wildfire’ for the purpose of fire incident reporting, which will enable Government to collect official data on the number of incidents and publish official statistics. These improvements will allow us to track data trends, the concentration of wildfire events and provide a solid evidence base for future wildfire policy and operational planning.Officials continue to engage actively with key stakeholders including landowners, land managers and wildfire specialists through established forums including the England and Wales Wildfire Forum (EWWF).

Communities and Local Government, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of creating standardised wildfire (a) definitions and (b) recording protocols.

The Government is taking a joined-up approach to enhancing resilience to wildfires. Prior to the transfer of fire functions to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG), the Home Office convened a number of stakeholder workshops with the Department for Environment, Food, and Rural Affairs (Defra), its agencies, and other stakeholders to identify policy options for addressing wildfire risk. This included reviewing existing frameworks and governance. The outcomes of this work are currently being considered.Improvements are being driven in wildfire data collection through the introduction of the new Fire and Rescue Data Platform – a new incident reporting tool used by Fire and Rescue Services. This will introduce a formal definition for ‘wildfire’ for the purpose of fire incident reporting, which will enable Government to collect official data on the number of incidents and publish official statistics. These improvements will allow us to track data trends, the concentration of wildfire events and provide a solid evidence base for future wildfire policy and operational planning.Officials continue to engage actively with key stakeholders including landowners, land managers and wildfire specialists through established forums including the England and Wales Wildfire Forum (EWWF).

Communities and Local Government, what guidance her Department provides to local authorities on increasing the provision of land for food-growing allotments.

The National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) is clear that planning policies and decisions should enable and support healthy lives, including through the provision of allotments. The NPPF also makes clear that open spaces and recreational buildings and land should not be built on unless there is clear evidence it is no longer required; equivalent or better provision is secured in a suitable location; or development of the site is for alternative sports and recreational provision, the benefits of which clearly outweigh the loss of the current or former use.

Communities and Local Government, what estimate her Department has made of the amount of developer contributions held unspent by local authorities.

I refer the hon Member to the answer to Question UIN 2673 on 6 September 2024.