Written questions by Stephenson.

Communities and Local Government, with reference to page 7 of the ADAS and Stephenson Halliday report entitled Review of the implementation of National Planning Policy Framework para 186c, issued on 27 August 2024, what assessment she has made of the finding that the wholly exceptional reason needs to be better defined.

The report in question confirmed that the National Planning Policy Framework contains a high level of protection for ancient woodland.The Framework makes clear that development resulting in the loss or deterioration of irreplaceable habitats should be refused, unless there are wholly exceptional reasons, and a suitable compensation strategy exists. These protections are strengthened further by the Town and Country Planning (Consultation) (England) Direction 2024 which requires local planning authorities to consult the Secretary of State where they have resolved to grant planning permission for development affecting ancient woodland.Local planning authorities have the principal responsibility for applying these protections effectively, and we do not consider it necessary to standardise the assessment of ancient woodland impacts or mandate arboricultural reports. The Ancient Woodland Inventory, updated Planning Practice Guidance and the Standing Advice on ancient woodlands and ancient and veteran trees are in place to support local decision makers make informed decisions about planning applications near these habitats.With regard to statutory consultees, I refer the hon. Member to the Written Ministerial Statement made on 10 March 2025 (HCWS510).We keep policy in this and other areas under review, working closely with the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

Communities and Local Government, with reference to Paragraph 182c of the National Planning Policy Framework, how she plans to enforce those maintenance arrangements.

Local planning authorities already have a wide range of planning enforcement powers, with strong penalties for non-compliance.The government is clear that effective enforcement is important to tackle breaches of planning control, including enforcing SuDS maintenance arrangements which do not conform to the planning permission.Where the local planning authority thinks that a condition imposed on a planning permission has not been met, they can serve a breach of condition notice, which requires the recipient to remedy the breach within a specified time. There is no appeal against such a notice and failure to comply with it is an offence punishable by an unlimited fine.We have published guidance on the enforcement powers available to local planning authorities. I do not have plans to publish further guidance on enforcement at this time.

Communities and Local Government, with reference to paragraph 182c of the National Planning Policy Framework, what penalties can be imposed on developers that do not comply with agreed maintenance arrangements once the development is built.

Local planning authorities already have a wide range of planning enforcement powers, with strong penalties for non-compliance.The government is clear that effective enforcement is important to tackle breaches of planning control, including enforcing SuDS maintenance arrangements which do not conform to the planning permission.Where the local planning authority thinks that a condition imposed on a planning permission has not been met, they can serve a breach of condition notice, which requires the recipient to remedy the breach within a specified time. There is no appeal against such a notice and failure to comply with it is an offence punishable by an unlimited fine.We have published guidance on the enforcement powers available to local planning authorities. I do not have plans to publish further guidance on enforcement at this time.

Communities and Local Government, with reference to page 15 of the ADAS and Stephenson Halliday report entitled Review of the implementation of National Planning Policy Framework para 186c, issued on 27 August 2024, whether she will make an assessment of the potential merits of standardising the assessment of ancient woodland impacts.

The report in question confirmed that the National Planning Policy Framework contains a high level of protection for ancient woodland.The Framework makes clear that development resulting in the loss or deterioration of irreplaceable habitats should be refused, unless there are wholly exceptional reasons, and a suitable compensation strategy exists. These protections are strengthened further by the Town and Country Planning (Consultation) (England) Direction 2024 which requires local planning authorities to consult the Secretary of State where they have resolved to grant planning permission for development affecting ancient woodland.Local planning authorities have the principal responsibility for applying these protections effectively, and we do not consider it necessary to standardise the assessment of ancient woodland impacts or mandate arboricultural reports. The Ancient Woodland Inventory, updated Planning Practice Guidance and the Standing Advice on ancient woodlands and ancient and veteran trees are in place to support local decision makers make informed decisions about planning applications near these habitats.With regard to statutory consultees, I refer the hon. Member to the Written Ministerial Statement made on 10 March 2025 (HCWS510).We keep policy in this and other areas under review, working closely with the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

Communities and Local Government, if she will make an estimate of the average number of planning permissions expected to be granted within 15 metres of ancient woodland each year for the next five years.

The report in question confirmed that the National Planning Policy Framework contains a high level of protection for ancient woodland.The Framework makes clear that development resulting in the loss or deterioration of irreplaceable habitats should be refused, unless there are wholly exceptional reasons, and a suitable compensation strategy exists. These protections are strengthened further by the Town and Country Planning (Consultation) (England) Direction 2024 which requires local planning authorities to consult the Secretary of State where they have resolved to grant planning permission for development affecting ancient woodland.Local planning authorities have the principal responsibility for applying these protections effectively, and we do not consider it necessary to standardise the assessment of ancient woodland impacts or mandate arboricultural reports. The Ancient Woodland Inventory, updated Planning Practice Guidance and the Standing Advice on ancient woodlands and ancient and veteran trees are in place to support local decision makers make informed decisions about planning applications near these habitats.With regard to statutory consultees, I refer the hon. Member to the Written Ministerial Statement made on 10 March 2025 (HCWS510).We keep policy in this and other areas under review, working closely with the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

Communities and Local Government, with reference to the Minister for Housing and Planning's oral contribution of 3 March 2025, Official Report, column 4, if she will set out the incentives her Department will offer to local authorities for new towns.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 36088 on 14 March 2025.

Communities and Local Government, with reference to the Minister for Housing and Planning's oral contribution of 3 March 2025, Official Report, columns 3 and 4, whether the New Towns Taskforce can recommend more than one new town in a local authority area.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 36088 on 14 March 2025.

Communities and Local Government, with reference to the Minister for Housing and Planning's oral contribution of 3 March 2025, Official Report, columns 3 and 4, for what reasons her Department has not discussed the suitability of potential locations for new towns with the New Towns Taskforce.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 36088 on 14 March 2025.

Communities and Local Government, with reference to the Minister for Housing and Planning's oral contribution of 3 March 2025, Official Report, columns 3 and 4, what her Department's policy is on whether local authorities that accept new towns will be subject to the duty to co-operate for local plans.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 36088 on 14 March 2025.

Communities and Local Government, with reference to the Minister for Housing and Planning's oral contribution of 3 March 2025 in response to a Question from the hon. Member for Mid Bedfordshire, Official Report, columns 3 and 4, if she will publish guidance on what would happen if a local planning authority was unable to meet its housing target due to construction of a new town on its available sustainable development area.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 36088 on 14 March 2025.

Communities and Local Government, with reference to the Minister for Housing and Planning's oral contribution of 3 March 2025, Official Report, columns 3 and 4, what her Department's policy is on whether housing supplied pursuant to a New Towns Taskforce recommendation can be included in a local authority’s Five year housing land supply calculation.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 36088 on 14 March 2025.

Communities and Local Government, with reference to her Department's press release entitled Government unveils plans for next generation of new towns, published on 13 February 2025, how the £20 million to help transform neglected small-scale council-owned sites into new homes for areas most in need will be distributed.

This funding will be made available through the next round of the Brownfield Land Release Fund. Further details on the application process and funding criteria will be announced in due course.

Communities and Local Government, with reference to her Department's policy paper entitled New Towns Taskforce: Terms of Reference, published on 18 September 2024, if she will make an assessment of the adequacy of New Towns Taskforce’s performance in engaging with (a) central government, (b) local government and (c) external stakeholders under paragraph 6(b) of those terms of reference.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 36088 on 14 March 2025.

Communities and Local Government, with reference to her Department's press release entitled Government unveils plans for next generation of new towns, published 13 February 2025, whether the £51.5m funding to increase regeneration and brownfield delivery is additional to funding outlined at the Autumn Budget 2024.

The £51.5 million package announced on 13 February 2025 is additional to the funding outlined at the Autumn Budget 2024.

Communities and Local Government, if she will make an estimate of the amount of land in hectares which has an active planning permission.

The Department does not hold the information requested.

Communities and Local Government, with reference to her Department's press release entitled Government unveils plans for next generation of new towns, published on 13 February 2025, whether any of the proposals received cover Mid Bedfordshire constituency.

The government has tasked the New Towns Taskforce, an independent expert advisory panel chaired by Sir Michael Lyons, with developing recommendations to ministers on suitable locations for new towns, as well as how to fund and deliver them. The Taskforce will submit its final report this summer. As set out in its Terms of Reference, which can be found on gov.uk here, the New Towns Taskforce will work in partnership with local leaders and communities, but its selection of sites will be made in the national interest. Not least because construction of the next generation of new towns will only begin toward the end of this Parliament, the government has been clear that they will deliver over and above the targets produced by the standard method. However, we will make sure that the right incentives are in place to support proactive local authorities to work with us to bring new towns forward and will keep under review how the Taskforce’s forthcoming recommendations on new towns interact with housing targets across England. New towns will be well-connected, well-designed, environmentally sustainable, and attractive places where people want to live and have all the infrastructure, amenities and services necessary to sustain thriving communities, including a gold standard aim of 40% affordable and social housing, with an emphasis on social rent. As there may be political or commercial sensitivities to information submitted regarding prospective developments, the New Towns Taskforce will not be sharing information about the evidence base of locations prior to publication of the final report.

Communities and Local Government, with reference to her Department's press release entitled Government unveils plans for next generation of new towns, published on 13 February 2025, if she will publish a list of all proposals received.

The government has tasked the New Towns Taskforce, an independent expert advisory panel chaired by Sir Michael Lyons, with developing recommendations to ministers on suitable locations for new towns, as well as how to fund and deliver them. The Taskforce will submit its final report this summer. As set out in its Terms of Reference, which can be found on gov.uk here, the New Towns Taskforce will work in partnership with local leaders and communities, but its selection of sites will be made in the national interest. Not least because construction of the next generation of new towns will only begin toward the end of this Parliament, the government has been clear that they will deliver over and above the targets produced by the standard method. However, we will make sure that the right incentives are in place to support proactive local authorities to work with us to bring new towns forward and will keep under review how the Taskforce’s forthcoming recommendations on new towns interact with housing targets across England. New towns will be well-connected, well-designed, environmentally sustainable, and attractive places where people want to live and have all the infrastructure, amenities and services necessary to sustain thriving communities, including a gold standard aim of 40% affordable and social housing, with an emphasis on social rent. As there may be political or commercial sensitivities to information submitted regarding prospective developments, the New Towns Taskforce will not be sharing information about the evidence base of locations prior to publication of the final report.

Communities and Local Government, if she will make an estimate of the number of homes expected to be built between July 2024 and July 2025.

The government do not routinely publish a supply forecast or projected profiles of housing delivery.Our Plan for Change includes an ambitious milestone of building 1.5 million safe and decent homes in England in this Parliament. Progress will be measured through the number of net additional dwellings, and we will update Parliament in the usual manner.

Communities and Local Government, if she will make an assessment of the land use breakdown of (a) the average Parliamentary constituency, (b) Ashton-under-Lyne constituency, (c) Oldham West, Chadderton & Royton constituency, (d) Greenwich & Woolwich constituency, (e) Nottingham North & Kimberley constituency and (f) Bethnal Green & Stepney constituency.

The Department publishes an annual release entitled “Land use statistics: England”, which presents summary statistics showing how different land uses are distributed across England, as at 2022.This is broken down into regions, local authorities, and Parliamentary constituency level analysis, with constituency breakdowns available in Live Tables P404a (proportion) or P404b (hectarage) on gov.uk here.These proportions shown for England Live Table P404a can, in effect, also be regarded as the breakdown for the average English Parliamentary constituency.

Communities and Local Government, if she will make a comparative assessment of the cumulative housing target for (a) Tower Hamlets, (b) Broxtowe, (c) Nottingham, (d) Greenwich, (e) Oldham and (f) Tameside under (i) the new housing targets and (ii) the housing targets under the previous system.

The government published the revised standard method for assessing local housing need on 12 December 2024. This aligns with our ambition for 1.5 million new homes to be delivered over this parliament and better directs new homes to where they are most needed and least affordable. The new standard method supports a more strategic approach to housing growth, distributing growth across wider city regions, and not just to the largest urban authority within our largest cities, as was the case under the previous method. Further detail on the new standard method is set out in the government’s response to the proposed reforms to the National Planning Policy Framework and other changes to the planning system consultation and the revised Planning Practice Guidance on housing and economic needs assessments. These are available on gov.uk. Local housing need figures for each local authority and region arising from the revised standard method can be found here.