The total cost to the public purse of seven Homes England staff attending the four-day 2024 MIPIM conference was £31,787.29. This figure includes the cost of flights and some expenses.

The previous referenced answer incorrectly stated that the reported total included flight costs when, in fact, it did not. Please consider this a correction of that answer.

Details of travel and subsistence usage by Homes England staff are set out in the Agency’s Annual Report. Over 98% of this total was for travel, hotels, and conference tickets with the remaining 2% covering reasonable expenses such as subsistence.

Details of senior MHCLG officials’ hospitality are published on a quarterly basis and are available on GOV.UK.

Planning applications statistics make clear that there has been a small reduction in the percentage of homes in planning permissions that are on sites of between 10-49 homes, from 11% in 2022-23 to 10% in 2024-25.

The reasons for this marginal reduction are multifaceted, but an important factor is the fact that sites of this size are primarily built out by small and medium-sized (SME) housebuilders who face challenges accessing finance and land and are disproportionately impacted by onerous regulatory burdens.

As a government we are clear that ramping up housing delivery requires us to diversify the housebuilding market. Integral to such diversification is not merely arresting but reversing the decline of SME housebuilders that has taken place over recent decades. That is why we have acted to support them by increasing their access to land, providing further financial assistance, and easing the burden of regulation.

The Town and Country Planning (Use Classes) (Amendment) (England) Order 2010 introduced a new Use Class, Class C4 (houses in multiple occupation). This covers use of a dwellinghouse by not more than six residents as a house in multiple occupation within the meaning of section 254 of the Housing Act 2004, excluding converted blocks of flats to which section 257 of that Act applies.

Houses in multiple occupation are not explicitly referenced in the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) published in December 2024.

Between 16 December 2025 and 10 March 2026, we consulted on a new NPPF. The consultation on the revised framework, which can be found on gov.uk here, included proposals for a more flexible Article 4 policy so local planning authorities can remove permitted development rights where it is necessary to protect the amenity or wellbeing of an area, for instance where there is an overconcentration of small Houses in Multiple Occupation. We are currently analysing the feedback received and will publish our response in due course.

The government has published no specific guidance in respect of planning applications to convert single dwellings into houses in multiple occupation.

Data on starts and completions at the Old Oak Opportunity area in West London are not centrally collected.

The Old Oak and Park Royal Development Corporation (OPDC) is a Mayoral Development Corporation established by the Mayor of London to regenerate the Old Oak opportunity area.

My Department will continue to work with the Mayor and OPDC to deliver up to 9,000 new homes, as set out in the Old Oak Masterplan Framework, and ensure the best use of public sector land to bring forward new housing and regeneration.

My Department is aware of occasions where affordable housing schemes have been unable to proceed and where, as a result, Homes England has made use of clauses set out in the relevant grant agreement to reclaim grant that has already been paid and reinvest it back into affordable housing.

The Greater London Authority (GLA) also operates grant recovery arrangements for schemes funded through its Affordable Homes Programme. Where a funded scheme does not proceed, or where other circumstances arise that trigger recovery under the terms of the funding agreement, the GLA may recover grant and reinvest those funds in the delivery of affordable housing. The GLA's Affordable Housing Capital Funding Guide, which can be found here, contains specific rules set out regarding grant recovery where schemes cannot proceed.

The National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) published in December 2024 makes clear that local planning authorities should plan positively for the provision and use of shared spaces, community facilities, transport and other infrastructure to enhance the sustainability of communities and residential environments, taking into account local strategies to improve health, social and cultural wellbeing for all sections of the community.

Between 16 December 2025 and 10 March 2026, we consulted on a new NPPF. That consultation, which can be found on gov.uk here, included proposals relating to community facilities and public service infrastructure.

We are currently analysing the feedback received and will publish our response in due course.

The National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) published in December 2024 makes clear that local planning authorities should plan positively for the provision and use of shared spaces, community facilities, transport and other infrastructure to enhance the sustainability of communities and residential environments, taking into account local strategies to improve health, social and cultural wellbeing for all sections of the community.

Between 16 December 2025 and 10 March 2026, we consulted on a new NPPF. That consultation, which can be found on gov.uk here, included proposals relating to community facilities and public service infrastructure.

We are currently analysing the feedback received and will publish our response in due course.

The government remains determined to drive local plans to adoption as quickly as possible in order to achieve our ambition of universal plan coverage and to ensure that plans contribute positively to increasing rates of housebuilding and infrastructure delivery. Local government reorganisation should not hinder the adoption of an up-to-date local plan.

National planning policy makes clear that local plans should be positively prepared and, as a minimum, seek to meet identified development needs. Local planning authorities are expected to do all they reasonably can to meet need, including working proactively with infrastructure providers (including water providers) to align growth and infrastructure provision. If needs cannot be met, the authority must clearly and robustly explain the reasons during the plan examination. The approach the authority has taken, including how it engaged with infrastructure providers, will be a key consideration for the independent Inspector in evaluating whether the local plan can be found ‘sound’.

Local planning authorities should consider whether otherwise unacceptable development could be made acceptable through the use of conditions or planning obligations. This could include the provision of infrastructure which is necessary to make a development acceptable in planning terms. Where it is in place, developers may also contribute towards infrastructure through the Community Infrastructure Levy.

Defra has established a Water Delivery Taskforce to ensure that water companies deliver on their planned investments to provide water and wastewater capacity. Water companies are under a statutory duty to provide new water and sewerage connections and must plan for future growth through their water resources and wastewater management plans. The water resources planning guideline published by the Environment Agency and Ofwat. Sets out how those companies should forecast demand for water based on existing customers and planned levels of household and non-household growth.

The government remains determined to drive local plans to adoption as quickly as possible in order to achieve our ambition of universal plan coverage and to ensure that plans contribute positively to increasing rates of housebuilding and infrastructure delivery. Local government reorganisation should not hinder the adoption of an up-to-date local plan.

National planning policy makes clear that local plans should be positively prepared and, as a minimum, seek to meet identified development needs. Local planning authorities are expected to do all they reasonably can to meet need, including working proactively with infrastructure providers (including water providers) to align growth and infrastructure provision. If needs cannot be met, the authority must clearly and robustly explain the reasons during the plan examination. The approach the authority has taken, including how it engaged with infrastructure providers, will be a key consideration for the independent Inspector in evaluating whether the local plan can be found ‘sound’.

Local planning authorities should consider whether otherwise unacceptable development could be made acceptable through the use of conditions or planning obligations. This could include the provision of infrastructure which is necessary to make a development acceptable in planning terms. Where it is in place, developers may also contribute towards infrastructure through the Community Infrastructure Levy.

Defra has established a Water Delivery Taskforce to ensure that water companies deliver on their planned investments to provide water and wastewater capacity. Water companies are under a statutory duty to provide new water and sewerage connections and must plan for future growth through their water resources and wastewater management plans. The water resources planning guideline published by the Environment Agency and Ofwat. Sets out how those companies should forecast demand for water based on existing customers and planned levels of household and non-household growth.

My Department has made no such specific assessment.

Registered Providers can bid for grant funding for eligible developments through the Social and Affordable Homes Programme, including those on brownfield land.

My Department launched the National Housing Delivery Fund (NHDF) on 1 April 2026. The NHDF will provide c.£5 billion of capital grant funding for infrastructure and land from 2026 to 2030. This includes £1.3 billion allocated through the Integrated Settlement for Established Mayoral Strategic Authorities (EMSAs) to support mayors to deliver more housing over the Spending Review period.

Information about contracts awarded by my Department that are valued above £12,000 (inc VAT) are published either on Contracts Finder, which can be found on gov.uk here, or Find a Tender, which can be found on gov.uk here. This includes information regarding contract value and awarded suppliers.

We do not hold information centrally in a format we are able to report on about opportunities that may have been bid for by specific suppliers but not awarded.

Edaroth have not bid for, nor received, funding from Homes England since July 2024.

AtkinsRéalis have bid and received funding from Homes England since July 2024.

By law, planning applications must be determined in accordance with the development plan for the area, unless material considerations indicate otherwise.

The National Planning Policy Framework must be taken into account in preparing the development plan, and is a material consideration in planning decisions.

By law, planning applications must be determined in accordance with the development plan for the area, unless material considerations indicate otherwise.

The National Planning Policy Framework must be taken into account in preparing the development plan, and is a material consideration in planning decisions.

The standard method identifies a minimum annual housing need figure and ensures that plan-making is informed by an unconstrained assessment of the number of homes needed in an area. It does not produce a housing requirement figure. Once local housing need has been assessed, authorities should then make an assessment of the amount of new homes that can be provided in their area. This should be justified by evidence on land availability, constraints on development and any other relevant matters.

Local planning authorities with up-to-date plans are assessed against their adopted plan housing requirement for the purposes of the Housing Delivery Test (HDT) and five-year housing land supply (5YHLS). Where an authority does not have an up-to-date plan, local housing need (calculated using the standard method) is used.

The current HDT results are the 2023 measurement, published on 12 December 2024. These results continue to apply until a subsequent Housing Delivery Test measurement is published. We remain committed to publishing the 2024 and 2025 HDT results as soon as possible. The Department does not formally collect 5YHLS data. The 5YHLS position of any given authority is often in flux and typically determined through planning appeals. As such, there are challenges in capturing comprehensive and robust data at any given time.

My Department has made no specific assessment of the impact of the revised standard method published on 12 December 2024 on the number of speculative planning applications determined under the presumption in favour of sustainable development. While failing against either HDT or 5YHLS is a strong indicator of housing need in an area not being sufficiently met, it does not mean that planning permission for housing will be automatically granted, and local planning authorities must consider a range of factors when determining planning applications.

My Department has made no such specific comparative assessment.

No costs for cladding remediation are payable by shared owners of leases which qualify for the leaseholder protections in the Building Safety Act 2022.

Any contributions towards non-cladding remediation costs are capped according to the size of the share of the property owned on 14 February 2022, irrespective of whether that share is later increased through staircasing, including up to 100%.

I refer the Rt Hon. Member to the Home Buying and Selling Reform Roadmap which my Department published on 19 June. It can be found on gov.uk here.

I refer the Rt Hon. Member to the Home Buying and Selling Reform Roadmap which my Department published on 19 June. It can be found on gov.uk here.

I refer the Rt Hon. Member to the Home Buying and Selling Reform Roadmap which my Department published on 19 June. It can be found on gov.uk here.

My Department publishes a release entitled ‘Land use change’ on previously developed (brownfield) land. Yearly data is available from 2013-14 to 2021-22 and can be found here.

My Department is working to update the land use statistics, which includes the new residential addresses release, to take advantage of new, more granular data from Ordnance Survey. Publication is expected to resume this year.

My Department has made no assessment of the potential impact of undefined planning restrictions on housing supply.