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A12: Repairs and Maintenance

Original answer

Local planning authorities already have planning powers to limit the concentration or proliferation of HMOs within their locality. They can remove the national permitted development right for smaller HMOs to protect the local amenity or wellbeing of an area by introducing an ‘Article 4’ direction which, once in place, requires all new HMO proposals to secure planning permission. We keep the powers to regulate HMOs under review.

The answer was corrected by Matthew Pennycook (Labour)

on Monday, 17 November 2025 on behalf of the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government.

Corrected answer

Local planning authorities already have planning powers to limit the concentration or proliferation of HMOs within their locality. They can remove the national permitted development right for smaller HMOs to protect the local amenity or wellbeing of an area by introducing an ‘Article 4’ direction which, once in place, requires all new HMO proposals to secure planning permission. We keep the powers to regulate HMOs under review.

I refer the Rt Hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 66157 on 17 July 2025.

Local development plans should address needs and opportunities in relation to infrastructure and identify what infrastructure is required and how it can be funded and brought forward. When preparing a Local Plan, Planning Practice Guidance recommends that local planning authorities use available evidence of infrastructure requirements to prepare an Infrastructure Funding Statement. Such Statements can be used to demonstrate the delivery of infrastructure throughout the plan-period.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

88240

Session

2024-26

Subjects

Construction Housing Essex A12 Local plans Repairs and maintenance

Link

View this Written question on www.parliament.uk