Written questions by Hussain.

Communities and Local Government, what steps he is taking to support local authorities to plan for low-carbon commercial development, including access to energy and transport infrastructure.

The National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) sets out that the purpose of the planning system is to contribute to the achievement of sustainable development, including the provision of supporting infrastructure in a sustainable manner. It also supports the increased provision and modernisation of various types of public infrastructure. The NPPF is also clear that new development, including commercial development, should be planned for in ways that reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Local development plans should identify opportunities for development to draw its energy supply from decentralised, renewable, or low carbon energy supply systems. Between 16 December 2025 and 10 March 2026, the government consulted on a new NPPF which includes clearer, ‘rules based’ policies for decision-making and plan-making and that would give substantial weight is given to the economic benefits of planning applications for commercial development. The consultation on the revised Framework, which can be found on gov.uk here, set out how planning policies and decisions can make a positive contribution to mitigating and adapting to climate change and emphasised the importance of improving renewable and low carbon energy infrastructure. We are currently analysing the feedback received and will publish our response in due course.

Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of updating planning guidance to support the delivery of green jobs and clean growth in regions such as West Yorkshire.

The National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) sets out that the purpose of the planning system is to contribute to the achievement of sustainable development, including the provision of supporting infrastructure in a sustainable manner. It also supports the increased provision and modernisation of various types of public infrastructure. The NPPF is also clear that new development, including commercial development, should be planned for in ways that reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Local development plans should identify opportunities for development to draw its energy supply from decentralised, renewable, or low carbon energy supply systems. Between 16 December 2025 and 10 March 2026, the government consulted on a new NPPF which includes clearer, ‘rules based’ policies for decision-making and plan-making and that would give substantial weight is given to the economic benefits of planning applications for commercial development. The consultation on the revised Framework, which can be found on gov.uk here, set out how planning policies and decisions can make a positive contribution to mitigating and adapting to climate change and emphasised the importance of improving renewable and low carbon energy infrastructure. We are currently analysing the feedback received and will publish our response in due course.

Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the planning system on the timely delivery of commercial developments that support local economic growth.

The National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) sets out that the purpose of the planning system is to contribute to the achievement of sustainable development, including the provision of supporting infrastructure in a sustainable manner. It also supports the increased provision and modernisation of various types of public infrastructure. The NPPF is also clear that new development, including commercial development, should be planned for in ways that reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Local development plans should identify opportunities for development to draw its energy supply from decentralised, renewable, or low carbon energy supply systems. Between 16 December 2025 and 10 March 2026, the government consulted on a new NPPF which includes clearer, ‘rules based’ policies for decision-making and plan-making and that would give substantial weight is given to the economic benefits of planning applications for commercial development. The consultation on the revised Framework, which can be found on gov.uk here, set out how planning policies and decisions can make a positive contribution to mitigating and adapting to climate change and emphasised the importance of improving renewable and low carbon energy infrastructure. We are currently analysing the feedback received and will publish our response in due course.

Communities and Local Government, what steps he is taking to support local planning authorities to process applications for employment land and commercial development more efficiently.

The MHCLG Digital Planning Programme is developing data standards for planning applications and supporting the adoption of modern planning software to make the planning process smoother, faster, and more efficient. Further detail on the programme can be found on gov.uk here. I otherwise refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 112629 on 2 March 2026.

Communities and Local Government, when he expects the remaining provisions of the Leasehold and Freehold Reform Act 2024 relating to the regulation of service charges to be brought into force; and what steps his Department is taking to ensure leaseholders are protected from excessive or unreasonable service charges in the interim.

The government has already made significant progress when it comes to commencing provisions in the Leasehold and Freehold Reform Act 2024: On 24 July 2024, we brought into force provisions relating to rentcharge arrears, building safety legal costs and the work of professional insolvency practitioners.On 31 October 2024, we brought into force further building safety measures.On 31 January 2025, we commenced provisions to remove the two-year qualifying rule in relation to enfranchisement and lease extensions.On 3 March 2025, the right to manage provisions (expanding access, reforming its costs, and voting rights) came into force. The government recognises the considerable financial strain that rising service charges place on leaseholders and tenants. The level of service charge that leaseholders pay depends on many factors, including the terms of a lease and the age and condition of a building. By law, variable service charges must be reasonable. Overcharging through service charges is completely unacceptable. Should leaseholders wish to contest the reasonableness of their service charges they may make an application to the appropriate tribunal. On 4 July 2025, the government published a consultation, jointly with the Welsh Government, on strengthening leaseholder protections over charges and services. The consultation included proposals to increase transparency over service charges and enhance access to redress through the relevant provisions in the Act. It also proposed new reforms the section 20 ‘major works’ procedure. The consultation can be found on gov.uk here. It closed on 26 September 2025, and we are analysing responses with a view to bringing the relevant measures into force as quickly as possible. On 18 December 2025, the government launched a consultation on proposals to implement the Act’s new consumer protections for homeowners living on freehold estates. These include ensuring that homeowners who pay an estate management charge have better access to information they need to understand what they are paying for, the right to challenge the reasonableness at the First-tier Tribunal (in England), and to go to the tribunal to appoint a substitute manager. The consultation can be found on gov.uk here and will remain open for responses until 12 March 2026. We will look to bring these measures into force as quickly as possible thereafter. The Act also sets the method for calculating the price of a statutory lease extension or freehold acquisition, known as the valuation process. It removes the requirement for marriage value to be paid, caps the treatment of ground rents in the valuation calculation at 0.1% of the freehold value, and allows government to prescribe the rates used to calculate the enfranchisement premium. Valuation rates used to calculate the enfranchisement premium will be set by the Secretary of State in secondary legislation. We will consult on valuation rates and commence the relevant provisions as soon as possible. As per my Written Ministerial Statement of 21 November 2024 (HCWS244), primary legislation will be required to rectify a small number of specific flaws in the 2024 Act before the Act’s enfranchisement provisions are commenced.

Communities and Local Government, what information her Department holds on trends in the number of people who have been evicted from their homes following rent increases in each of the last five years.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 34191 on 10 March 2025.

Communities and Local Government, if she will take steps through the next Spending Review to increase the level of funding for the provision of social housing for homeless people.

The government is committed to delivering the biggest increase in social and affordable housebuilding in a generation.I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 30393 on 24 February 2025 for more detail on the steps we have already taken to increase social and affordable housebuilding.We will set out details of new investment to succeed the 2021-26 Affordable Homes Programme at the Spending Review. This new investment will deliver a mix of homes for sub-market rent and homeownership, with a particular focus on delivering homes for Social Rent.