Written questions by Naish.

Communities and Local Government, what steps his Department is taking to encourage the use of permeable surfaces on new housing estates and in the public realm by developers.

Building Regulations apply when new building work is being undertaken. The options for dealing with rainwater are set out at Schedule 1 Part H of the Building Regulations 2010 which state that paved areas around a building shall be adequately drained and rainwater discharged, according to priority, by either soakaway or other adequate infiltration system. The regulations can be found on gov.uk here. It is the responsibility of the developer to design a rainwater system in a manner appropriate to the site. In addition, the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) makes clear that applications which could affect drainage should incorporate sustainable drainage systems to control flow rates and reduce volumes of run off. This is supported by Planning Practice Guidance (PPG) on Flood Risk and Coastal Change, which encourages the use of comprehensive sustainable drainage approaches to help alleviate flood risk and manage the impacts where flooding does occur, including by maximising opportunities for infiltration of surface water through replacement of impermeable surfaces with permeable surfaces, and maximising opportunities for planting and vegetated areas in preference to engineered surfaces. National PPG on design highlights that design codes can specify how sustainable drainage systems and permeable surfaces can be incorporated into public space. Between 16 December 2025 and 10 March 2026, the government consulted a new NPPF. The consultation on the revised Framework, which can be found on gov.uk here, included proposals relating to flood risk and sustainable drainage. We are currently analysing the feedback received and will publish our response in due course.

Communities and Local Government, what steps his Department is taking to support properties being retrofitted with permeable surfaces to reduce flooding risks.

Building Regulations apply when new building work is being undertaken. The options for dealing with rainwater are set out at Schedule 1 Part H of the Building Regulations 2010 which state that paved areas around a building shall be adequately drained and rainwater discharged, according to priority, by either soakaway or other adequate infiltration system. The regulations can be found on gov.uk here. It is the responsibility of the developer to design a rainwater system in a manner appropriate to the site. In addition, the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) makes clear that applications which could affect drainage should incorporate sustainable drainage systems to control flow rates and reduce volumes of run off. This is supported by Planning Practice Guidance (PPG) on Flood Risk and Coastal Change, which encourages the use of comprehensive sustainable drainage approaches to help alleviate flood risk and manage the impacts where flooding does occur, including by maximising opportunities for infiltration of surface water through replacement of impermeable surfaces with permeable surfaces, and maximising opportunities for planting and vegetated areas in preference to engineered surfaces. National PPG on design highlights that design codes can specify how sustainable drainage systems and permeable surfaces can be incorporated into public space. Between 16 December 2025 and 10 March 2026, the government consulted a new NPPF. The consultation on the revised Framework, which can be found on gov.uk here, included proposals relating to flood risk and sustainable drainage. We are currently analysing the feedback received and will publish our response in due course.

Communities and Local Government, what steps his Department is taking to ensure transparency and accountability in cases where parish or town councils implement significant increases in the council tax precept; and what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of such increases on residents.

It is for town and parish councils to set their precept and explain their decisions to residents. These precepts have not been subject to referendum principles, but this comes with a clear expectation that councils will take all available steps to mitigate the need for increases. Decisions taken by town and parish councils in 2026-27 will be taken into account by the government when considering referendum principles in future years.Where a town or parish council has a precept worth £140,000 or more, the information supplied with the council tax bill must set out its expenditure council tax requirement, and the council’s opinion on the impact of expenditure on the precept level.

Communities and Local Government, what steps his Department is taking to help increase the affordability of insulation material for construction companies.

The government is consulting on long-term reforms to the construction products regulatory regime, which aims to create a dynamic environment that supports long-term economic growth, infrastructure and housing delivery.

Communities and Local Government, what assessment his Department has made of the potential merits of simplifying the definition of affordable housing types set out in the National Planning Policy Framework.

To reflect this government’s priorities, the revised National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) published on 12 December 2024 includes a separate definition of Social Rent so that it is not referred to as just one of a number of types of affordable housing for rent.We have no current plans to further simplify the definition of affordable housing types set out in the NPPF.

Communities and Local Government, what assessment his Department has made of the potential merits of providing targeted funding to councils to increase infrastructure adoption on new estates.

I refer the hon. Member to the Written Ministerial Statement published on 18 December 2025  (HCWS1210).

Communities and Local Government, what assessment his Department has made of the adequacy of financial oversight and scrutiny arrangements in parish and town councils.

Parish and town councils are independent of central government. Decisions on precept levels are taken locally by individual councils, in line with the relevant legislative framework. The Government continues to monitor the precept increases set by town and parish councils, and considers whether to set referendum principles for the sector as part of the annual local government finance settlement process. Issues about parish council expenditure can be raised at the annual parish meeting. The Accounts and Audit Regulations 2015 require parish councils to complete and publish an Annual Governance and Accountability Return (AGAR) to support scrutiny of council spending and enable the local electorate to hold them to account. To strengthen public confidence in the oversight of parish council finances, the government committed to reviewing the AGAR process in its response to the Local Audit Strategy consultation published in April 2025. The government has no plans to assess the merits of developing mechanisms to hold former councillors to account.

Communities and Local Government, what assessment his Department has made of the potential merits of introducing national adoptable standards for new build estates.

I refer the hon. Member to the Written Ministerial Statement published on 18 December 2025  (HCWS1210).

Communities and Local Government, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of increasing mechanisms available to hold former parish or town councillors to account for financial decisions that have contributed to substantial increases in local precepts.

Parish and town councils are independent of central government. Decisions on precept levels are taken locally by individual councils, in line with the relevant legislative framework. The Government continues to monitor the precept increases set by town and parish councils, and considers whether to set referendum principles for the sector as part of the annual local government finance settlement process. Issues about parish council expenditure can be raised at the annual parish meeting. The Accounts and Audit Regulations 2015 require parish councils to complete and publish an Annual Governance and Accountability Return (AGAR) to support scrutiny of council spending and enable the local electorate to hold them to account. To strengthen public confidence in the oversight of parish council finances, the government committed to reviewing the AGAR process in its response to the Local Audit Strategy consultation published in April 2025. The government has no plans to assess the merits of developing mechanisms to hold former councillors to account.

Communities and Local Government, what steps his Department is taking to help support fire and rescue services (a) in Nottinghamshire and (b) nationally via financial investment.

On 9 February 2026, the Ministry published the 2026/27 Local Government Finance Settlement which sets out funding allocations for all local authorities including fire and rescue. (a) In 2026/27, Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Authority will have a core spending power of £60.48 million, an increase of 4.7% compared to 2025/26. (b) The Settlement will make available almost £1.95 billion in core spending power for standalone fire and rescue authorities in England (excluding North Yorkshire and Greater Manchester), an average 4.71% increase compared to 2025/26. By the end of the multi-year period, we will have provided a 12.75% increase in core spending power compared to 2025/26. In addition to settlement funding, the Government has provided Fire and Rescue Authorities with several grants intended for specific purposes, such as the Fire Pensions Grant and Protection Uplift Grant.

Communities and Local Government, with reference to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government's report entitled Deprivation in Rural Areas, published in October 2025, what assessment his Department has made of the potential implications for its policies of the report's finding that 14 of the 20 most-deprived rural Lower Layer Super Output Areas are in former mining areas.

Our Pride in Place strategy sets out how we will deliver up to £5.8 billion over ten years to 284 neighbourhoods (Middle Super Output Areas) experiencing the highest levels of deprivation across the country. Many coalfield communities – including very deprived Lower Super Output Areas - are part of this programme: Bentilee and Ubberley, Peterlee East, Grassmoor & Holmewood, Platt Bridge & Spring View, amongst many others.

Communities and Local Government, what discussions his Department has had with the the Chancellor of the Exchequer, on the proposed £50 million capital investment in the Coalfields Regeneration Trust to support SME industrial development.

I refer the Hon.Member to Question UIN ⁠114606 answered on 9 March.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 16 April 2025 to Question 44299 on Park Homes: Sales, when he plans to seek evidence from the sector on the potential impact of paying site owners a commission upon sale of a park home on residents.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 97962 on 15 December 2025.

Communities and Local Government, if he will take legislative steps to amend the Mobile Homes (Site Licensing) (England) Regulations 2014 to (a) require local authorities to review site licences and site licence conditions at regular intervals and (b) take representations from residents into account during those reviews.

Local authorities have extensive enforcement powers to take action against site owners who breach their site licence conditions. Local authorities can change the conditions attached to a site licence at any time, and may choose to consult residents on the licence conditions being proposed. The government has published guidance for local authorities on site licensing duties. Concerns about conditions on a site should be raised with the local authority. If those concerns are not addressed, a formal complaint should be made through the authority’s complaints process and can be taken further, where appropriate, through the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman.

Communities and Local Government, what guidance his Department provides to local authorities on (a) identifying and (b) tackling unlawful (i) charges, (ii) bullying and (iii) intimidation by park home site operators.

Contractual disputes between site owners and park home residents, such as those relating to pitch fees and utility charges, fall within the jurisdiction of the First-tier Tribunal, rather than local planning authorities. Local planning authorities have powers under the Caravan Sites Act 1968 to deal with cases of harassment and unlawful eviction on residential caravan sites. However, some cases reported as bulling or intimidation, may be contractual matters and will be for the First Tier Tribunal, not local planning authorities, to determine. Park home residents who believe they have been bullied or intimidated can contact the government-funded Leasehold Advisory Service for free, independent advice about their rights and the most appropriate action.

Communities and Local Government, what steps his Department is taking to improve consistency of local authority enforcement of park home site licensing and related protections for residents.

Local authorities have extensive enforcement powers to take action against site owners who breach their site licence conditions. Local authorities can change the conditions attached to a site licence at any time, and may choose to consult residents on the licence conditions being proposed. The government has published guidance for local authorities on site licensing duties. Concerns about conditions on a site should be raised with the local authority. If those concerns are not addressed, a formal complaint should be made through the authority’s complaints process and can be taken further, where appropriate, through the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman.

Communities and Local Government, local authorities have had departmental engagement, intervention or support due to concerns about park homes enforcement capacity or performance in each of the last five years.

Local authorities have extensive enforcement powers to take action against site owners who breach their site licence conditions. Local authorities can change the conditions attached to a site licence at any time, and may choose to consult residents on the licence conditions being proposed. The government has published guidance for local authorities on site licensing duties. Concerns about conditions on a site should be raised with the local authority. If those concerns are not addressed, a formal complaint should be made through the authority’s complaints process and can be taken further, where appropriate, through the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman.

Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the feasibility of requiring that utility supply arrangements on (a) new and (b) extended residential park home sites provide supplier choice for residents on the same basis as other housing developments.

Where park home residents purchase electricity from their site owner, they may not always have a choice of energy supplier, contract type or prices and this can lead to disputes between residents and site owners. The previous government explored this matter in 2023 through a Call for Evidence (which can be found on gov.uk here) but no straightforward solutions were identified. In October 2025, Ofgem issued a call for input on Reselling Gas and Electricity (which can be here) to assess whether current arrangements under the Maximum Resale Price (MRP) provisions remain fit for purpose, ensure fair pricing, and protect consumers, particularly in light of evolving market conditions and energy affordability concerns. Ofgem is considering the responses and aims to publish a policy consultation on proposed changes in early summer 2026.

Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the 10 per cent commission on park home resales, including potential interactions with tax receipts and local authority adult social care budgets.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 97962 on 15 December 2025.

Communities and Local Government, when the new local plan-making regulations will be introduced.

I refer the hon. Member to the Written Ministerial Statement made on 27 November 2025 (HCWS1104).