Every parliamentary written question tabled by Chris Hinchliff this session, with the full answer and department. See how every department answers, or back to the MP page.
Showing 21–38 of 38 · Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the answer of 4 December 2025 to question 94312, what a wholly exceptional reason would be.
Further guidance on how local planning authorities should implement the protections relating to irreplaceable habitats can be found in Planning Practice Guidance on gov.uk here and the footnotes to the National Planning Policy Framework on gov.uk here.
Communities and Local Government, whether he plans to add chalk streams to the National Planning Policy Framework as an irreplaceable habitat.
I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 94314 on 3 December 2025.
Communities and Local Government, what assessment his Department has made of whether chalk streams are an irreplaceable habitat.
I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 94314 on 3 December 2025.
Communities and Local Government, whether he has discussions planned with nature organisations including the Woodland Trust, Wildlife Trusts and Wildlife and Countryside Link on potential secondary legislation arising from the Planning and Infrastructure Bill.
The government has engaged closely with a range of stakeholders, including nature and conservation groups, throughout the passage of the Planning and Infrastructure Bill and looks forward to further external engagement as we implement its various provisions.
Communities and Local Government, whether any Environmental Delivery Plans are currently under consideration or development by Natural England or have been proposed by the Government.
Environmental Delivery Plans (EDPs) can be used only to discharge specific environmental obligations. They will set out the conservation measures that will be taken to address the impact of specified types of development on relevant environmental features – a specific protected feature of a protected site, or a specific protected species. The EDP will also set out the amount of the nature restoration levy to be paid by developers to Natural England based on what is required to pay for the measures. Alongside the levy rate payable, the EDP will set out the relevant environmental obligations that will be discharged, disapplied or modified as a result of making the payment. The EDP may also include areas within a development area where development is excluded from the EDP – for example, within the protected site itself. The EDP will also specify particular types and amounts of development that it can cover. Once the threshold for the amount of development allowed under the EDP is reached, without an amendment new development will no longer be able to rely upon the EDP. Natural England can define an amount of development in a variety of ways. An EDP must specify a start date when development can start paying into the EDP, and an end date – the point at which the overall improvement test must have been met. The end date must be no later than 10 years following the start date, so that benefits can start to be realised within a reasonable timeframe. EDPs will be able to include back-up conservation measures that could be deployed, if needed, to secure the desired environmental outcomes. That is not only important for nature, but part of ensuring that the Secretary of State can be confident that EDPs will deliver conservation measures that materially outweigh the impact of development. This shift from the status quo towards active restoration. Importantly, planning conditions can be imposed on development as a conservation measure. The National Planning Policy 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. No provisions in the Planning and Infrastructure Bill reduce those protections. An EDP that would cause irreversible or irreparable impact to a protected site or species could not be approved by a Secretary of State, as it would fail to secure the overall improvement of the conservation status of the relevant environmental feature. Similarly, under the Bill network measures could never be used where to do so would result in the loss of an irreplaceable habitat as this would inherently not pass the overall improvement test. EDPs will define the environmental impacts they cover, such as nutrient pollution or the impact development might have on a protected species. On 24 November, during consideration of Commons Reasons and Amendments in the House of Lords, the government made clear that the first EDPs will address nutrient pollution only and that Ministers would return to the House once the first nutrients EDPs are in place to issue a statement on their progress. It will only be after the House has seen this statement that the Secretary of State will make any further EDPs on other environmental issues. Whilst Natural England may wish to undertake preparatory work in parallel on potential future EDPs, this approach would ensure that any learning from the first nutrients EDP is considered before any EDPs beyond nutrients are made and operational.
Communities and Local Government, if chalk streams will be added to the National Planning Policy Framework as an irreplaceable habitat.
As per the commitment I made in the House on 13 November during consideration of Lords Amendments to the Planning and Infrastructure Bill, the government intend to include explicit recognition of chalk streams in the new suite of national policies for decision-making that we will consult on before the end of this year. This will ensure that chalk streams are explicitly recognised as features of high environmental value in national planning policy and that clear expectations are set for plan-makers and decision-makers in respect of managing the impacts of development on these sensitive waterbodies.
Communities and Local Government, whether the overall improvement test in Environmental Delivery Plans will ensure that irreplaceable habitats and species cannot be included; and whether he will publish a list of environmental features he considers to be irreplaceable.
Environmental Delivery Plans (EDPs) can be used only to discharge specific environmental obligations. They will set out the conservation measures that will be taken to address the impact of specified types of development on relevant environmental features – a specific protected feature of a protected site, or a specific protected species. The EDP will also set out the amount of the nature restoration levy to be paid by developers to Natural England based on what is required to pay for the measures. Alongside the levy rate payable, the EDP will set out the relevant environmental obligations that will be discharged, disapplied or modified as a result of making the payment. The EDP may also include areas within a development area where development is excluded from the EDP – for example, within the protected site itself. The EDP will also specify particular types and amounts of development that it can cover. Once the threshold for the amount of development allowed under the EDP is reached, without an amendment new development will no longer be able to rely upon the EDP. Natural England can define an amount of development in a variety of ways. An EDP must specify a start date when development can start paying into the EDP, and an end date – the point at which the overall improvement test must have been met. The end date must be no later than 10 years following the start date, so that benefits can start to be realised within a reasonable timeframe. EDPs will be able to include back-up conservation measures that could be deployed, if needed, to secure the desired environmental outcomes. That is not only important for nature, but part of ensuring that the Secretary of State can be confident that EDPs will deliver conservation measures that materially outweigh the impact of development. This shift from the status quo towards active restoration. Importantly, planning conditions can be imposed on development as a conservation measure. The National Planning Policy 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. No provisions in the Planning and Infrastructure Bill reduce those protections. An EDP that would cause irreversible or irreparable impact to a protected site or species could not be approved by a Secretary of State, as it would fail to secure the overall improvement of the conservation status of the relevant environmental feature. Similarly, under the Bill network measures could never be used where to do so would result in the loss of an irreplaceable habitat as this would inherently not pass the overall improvement test. EDPs will define the environmental impacts they cover, such as nutrient pollution or the impact development might have on a protected species. On 24 November, during consideration of Commons Reasons and Amendments in the House of Lords, the government made clear that the first EDPs will address nutrient pollution only and that Ministers would return to the House once the first nutrients EDPs are in place to issue a statement on their progress. It will only be after the House has seen this statement that the Secretary of State will make any further EDPs on other environmental issues. Whilst Natural England may wish to undertake preparatory work in parallel on potential future EDPs, this approach would ensure that any learning from the first nutrients EDP is considered before any EDPs beyond nutrients are made and operational.
Communities and Local Government, what steps the Government is taking to distinguish between diffuse landscape issues, such as nutrient pollution, and protected sites and species in the context of environmental delivery.
Environmental Delivery Plans (EDPs) can be used only to discharge specific environmental obligations. They will set out the conservation measures that will be taken to address the impact of specified types of development on relevant environmental features – a specific protected feature of a protected site, or a specific protected species. The EDP will also set out the amount of the nature restoration levy to be paid by developers to Natural England based on what is required to pay for the measures. Alongside the levy rate payable, the EDP will set out the relevant environmental obligations that will be discharged, disapplied or modified as a result of making the payment. The EDP may also include areas within a development area where development is excluded from the EDP – for example, within the protected site itself. The EDP will also specify particular types and amounts of development that it can cover. Once the threshold for the amount of development allowed under the EDP is reached, without an amendment new development will no longer be able to rely upon the EDP. Natural England can define an amount of development in a variety of ways. An EDP must specify a start date when development can start paying into the EDP, and an end date – the point at which the overall improvement test must have been met. The end date must be no later than 10 years following the start date, so that benefits can start to be realised within a reasonable timeframe. EDPs will be able to include back-up conservation measures that could be deployed, if needed, to secure the desired environmental outcomes. That is not only important for nature, but part of ensuring that the Secretary of State can be confident that EDPs will deliver conservation measures that materially outweigh the impact of development. This shift from the status quo towards active restoration. Importantly, planning conditions can be imposed on development as a conservation measure. The National Planning Policy 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. No provisions in the Planning and Infrastructure Bill reduce those protections. An EDP that would cause irreversible or irreparable impact to a protected site or species could not be approved by a Secretary of State, as it would fail to secure the overall improvement of the conservation status of the relevant environmental feature. Similarly, under the Bill network measures could never be used where to do so would result in the loss of an irreplaceable habitat as this would inherently not pass the overall improvement test. EDPs will define the environmental impacts they cover, such as nutrient pollution or the impact development might have on a protected species. On 24 November, during consideration of Commons Reasons and Amendments in the House of Lords, the government made clear that the first EDPs will address nutrient pollution only and that Ministers would return to the House once the first nutrients EDPs are in place to issue a statement on their progress. It will only be after the House has seen this statement that the Secretary of State will make any further EDPs on other environmental issues. Whilst Natural England may wish to undertake preparatory work in parallel on potential future EDPs, this approach would ensure that any learning from the first nutrients EDP is considered before any EDPs beyond nutrients are made and operational.
Communities and Local Government, what steps he is taking to reduce the number of vacant residential properties.
The government wants to see more empty homes brought back into use across the country.Local authorities have strong powers and incentives to tackle empty homes. They have the discretionary powers to charge additional council tax on properties which have been left unoccupied and substantially unfurnished for one or more years. The maximum premium that a council can apply increases, depending on the length of time that the property has been empty for, with a premium of up to 300% on homes left empty for over ten years.They can also access funding through the Affordable Homes Programme and Local Authority Housing Fund. Through the New Homes Bonus, local authorities can also receive the same level of reward for bringing an empty home back into use as building a new one.Local authorities can also use powers to take over the management of long-term empty homes to bring them back into use in the private rented sector. Local authorities can apply for an Empty Dwelling Management Order (EDMO) when a property has been empty for more than two years, subject to the production of evidence that the property has been causing a nuisance to the community and evidence of community support for their proposal. More information can be found on gov.uk here.The government outlined its intent to strengthen local authorities’ ability to take over the management of vacant residential premises in the English Devolution White Paper published in December 2024. Further details will be set out in due course.
Communities and Local Government, with reference to p.94 of the English Devolution White Paper, published on 16 December 2024, if he will publish his Department's (a) proposals and (b) timetable for implementing proposed powers to enable local authorities to take over the management of vacant residential properties.
The government wants to see more empty homes brought back into use across the country.Local authorities have strong powers and incentives to tackle empty homes. They have the discretionary powers to charge additional council tax on properties which have been left unoccupied and substantially unfurnished for one or more years. The maximum premium that a council can apply increases, depending on the length of time that the property has been empty for, with a premium of up to 300% on homes left empty for over ten years.They can also access funding through the Affordable Homes Programme and Local Authority Housing Fund. Through the New Homes Bonus, local authorities can also receive the same level of reward for bringing an empty home back into use as building a new one.Local authorities can also use powers to take over the management of long-term empty homes to bring them back into use in the private rented sector. Local authorities can apply for an Empty Dwelling Management Order (EDMO) when a property has been empty for more than two years, subject to the production of evidence that the property has been causing a nuisance to the community and evidence of community support for their proposal. More information can be found on gov.uk here.The government outlined its intent to strengthen local authorities’ ability to take over the management of vacant residential premises in the English Devolution White Paper published in December 2024. Further details will be set out in due course.
Communities and Local Government, what estimate she has made of the real-terms percentage change in funding for the Affordable Homes Programme in each of the next three financial years.
The 2021-26 Affordable Homes Programme averages £2.3 billion of grant capital funding per year.The Spending Review 2025 policy paper (which can be found on gov.uk here) makes clear that spending on our new £39 billion, 10-year Social and Affordable Homes Programme (2026-27 to 2035-36) will reach £4 billion per year in 2029-30 and rise in line with inflation subsequently.As such, government spending on affordable housing investment will have almost doubled by the end of this Parliament.Government does not usually publish year-by-year spend on specific programmes in advance. We will continue to publish past year’s expenditure figures in the department's Annual Report and Accounts.
Communities and Local Government, what estimate she has made of the projected percentage increase in nominal funding for the Affordable Homes Programme in each of the next three financial years.
The 2021-26 Affordable Homes Programme averages £2.3 billion of grant capital funding per year.The Spending Review 2025 policy paper (which can be found on gov.uk here) makes clear that spending on our new £39 billion, 10-year Social and Affordable Homes Programme (2026-27 to 2035-36) will reach £4 billion per year in 2029-30 and rise in line with inflation subsequently.As such, government spending on affordable housing investment will have almost doubled by the end of this Parliament.Government does not usually publish year-by-year spend on specific programmes in advance. We will continue to publish past year’s expenditure figures in the department's Annual Report and Accounts.
Communities and Local Government, what estimate she has made of the proportion of projected additional funding for the Affordable Homes Programme that will be allocated to homes for social rent in the next three financial years.
The 2021-26 Affordable Homes Programme averages £2.3 billion of grant capital funding per year.The Spending Review 2025 policy paper (which can be found on gov.uk here) makes clear that spending on our new £39 billion, 10-year Social and Affordable Homes Programme (2026-27 to 2035-36) will reach £4 billion per year in 2029-30 and rise in line with inflation subsequently.As such, government spending on affordable housing investment will have almost doubled by the end of this Parliament.Government does not usually publish year-by-year spend on specific programmes in advance. We will continue to publish past year’s expenditure figures in the department's Annual Report and Accounts.
Communities and Local Government, with reference to part three of the Planning and Infrastructure Bill, whether environmental delivery plans will be applied in a modular way, with species considered on a case-by-case basis.
Environmental Delivery Plans will only be put in place where Natural England and the Secretary of State are confident that conservation measures will be sufficient to outweigh the negative impact of development. Where this is not the case, existing environmental obligations, including those arising under the Habitats Regulations, will remain in place. We are working with Natural England to explore which species might benefit from strategic approaches.
Communities and Local Government, what information her Department holds on the number and proportion of overseas voters who did not receive a ballot in time to vote at the general election in 2024; and whether her Department plans to take steps to increase the proportion of overseas voters who receive a ballot in time.
The Department does not hold information on the number of overseas voters that did not receive a ballot in time to vote at the general election in 2024.As set out in our response to the Electoral Commission’s evaluation of the 2024 general election, published last month (Electoral Commission’s reports on the 2024 elections: government response - GOV.UK), the Government recognises the Commission’s findings with regards to the difficulties faced by British citizens living overseas when trying to participate in UK elections.As part of our review of electoral registration and conduct, the government, in partnership with electoral practitioners and the Electoral Commission, is examining several aspects of the system for overseas electors, with a view to identifying practical solutions to some of the challenges faced.
Communities and Local Government, whether the Environmental Development Plans proposed in Part 3 of the Planning and Infrastructure Bill will be informed by site level assessments where required.
Environmental Delivery Plans will only be put in place where Natural England and the Secretary of State are confident that conservation measures will be sufficient to outweigh the impact of development. The plans will be evidence based and subject to consultation before coming to the Secretary of State for consideration. Where an Environmental Delivery Plan is in place and a developer utilises it, the developer would no longer be required to undertake their own assessments, or deliver project-specific interventions, for issues addressed by the Environmental Delivery Plan.
Communities and Local Government, whether the Environmental Development Plans proposed in Part 3 of the Planning and Infrastructure Bill will be required to follow the mitigation hierarchy.
Environmental Development Plans will provide the flexibility to diverge from project-by-project mitigation and a restrictive application of the mitigation hierarchy. However, this will only be where Natural England consider that this would deliver better outcomes for nature over the course of the delivery plan. An Environmental Development Plan can only be put in place where Natural England and the Secretary of State are satisfied that the delivery of conservation measures will outweigh the negative effects of development.
Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 8 November 2024 to Question 11941 on Community Ownership Fund, if she will publish details of options her Department is considering.
This Government is committed to community ownership, and through the English Devolution Bill will introduce a new Community Right to Buy, which will make it easier for communities to take on valued assets, such as empty shops, pubs and community spaces.Al...