Every parliamentary written question tabled by Alex Mayer this session, with the full answer and department. Back to the MP page.
Showing 1–20 of 23 · Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
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, 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, 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, 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.
Communities and Local Government, whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of making telecommunications companies statutory consultees in the planning process for new housing developments.
I refer the hon. Member to the Written Ministerial Statement made on 10 March 2025 (HCWS510).
Communities and Local Government, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of allowing local authorities to use automatic number plate recognition for car park management.
Local Authorities are allowed to use ANPR and associated recording equipment for enforcing both on and off-street parking contraventions. However, the use of ANPR by Local Authorities as the sole means for enforcing parking contraventions is forbidden under the Traffic Management Act 2004 (TMA) Regulations. This means that whilst local authorities can use ANPR, they cannot issue penalty charge notices via post following the detection of a parking contravention by ANPR in all but a very limited number of exceptions. Such exceptions include if the motorist drives away before the ticket can be issued, and certain on-street circumstances relating to bus lanes and red routes.The rationale behind this restriction of ANPR usage is to make non-compliant motorists aware at the time that they have contravened a parking regulation. There are currently no plans to revise the TMA.
Communities and Local Government, what estimate she has made of the amount of private finance required to deliver the HS2 Euston quarter development.
The Department for Transport is responsible for delivering tunnelling for HS2 to Euston, as well as developing a much-improved station site.To support the delivery of a significant number of homes alongside this project, MHCLG has established the Euston Housing Delivery Group. As outlined in the Written Ministerial Statement made on 31 October 2024 (HCWS182), the Delivery Group will be chaired by Bek Seeley and will be made up of industry experts in urban design, architecture, affordable housing delivery and the financing of large-scale projects.Identifying the infrastructure, services, and green space required for the area, as well as the private finance needed to deliver the scheme, is a core objective for the group in the coming months. It will be for the delivery group to determine and advise on the quantum of private finance required to deliver wider regeneration around Euston.We will continue to update Parliament on the work of the Delivery Group.