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Written question asked by Ben Maguire (Liberal Democrat) on Friday, 3 January 2025, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 7 January 2025. It was answered by Matthew Pennycook (Labour) on Monday, 13 January 2025 on behalf of the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government.

Affordable Housing: Construction

Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether she has made an assessment of the potential merits of legislating to increase the minimum percentage of affordable housing requirement when hew housing developments are (a) planned and (b) built.

Answer

The golden rules introduced through the revised National Planning Policy Framework published on 12 December 2024 require that development on the Green Belt delivers 15 percentage points more affordable housing than the existing local plan affordable housing requirements, up to a maximum of 50% (except where the local plan requirement is already higher). We estimate that the median affordable housing target in the Green Belt will be 50%.

Outside of the Green Belt, it is for local authorities to assess the size, type and tenure of housing needed for different groups in the community, including those who require affordable housing, and to reflect this in planning policies. We will consider what further steps we can take to support social and affordable housing as part of our intent to produce a set of national policies for decision making later this year.

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
21951
Session
2024-26
Related items
Affordable Housing: Construction
Monday, 20 July 2026
Written questions
House of Commons
Subjects
Construction Planning Affordable housing
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk