Matthew Pennycook
MP for Greenwich and Woolwich · Labour · United Kingdom
“The Government recognise the impact that persistent antisocial behaviour can have. I very much agree with both the spirit and the letter of what the shadow Minister has just said. Our inboxes are full of cases of antisocial behaviour, which absolutely blights the lives of individuals and, in some cases, entire communities.”
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“Our ambitions to deliver the biggest increase in social and affordable house building in a generation will benefit from the Bill, but they are not entirely dependent on this one piece of legislation. The supply statistics speak for themselves. Let me give the statistics from 2024-25.”
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“New clause 6, tabled by the hon. Member for Taunton and Wellington, seeks to ensure that at least 10% of new social housing dwellings meet the M4(3) wheelchair-accessible standard in the building regulations. I very much commend where he is coming from with the new clause.”
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“As the hon. Gentleman knows, because we have had this debate many times, to date we have not set a national social and affordable housing target.”
House of Commons29 October 2026Contains Parliamentary information licensed under the Open Parliament Licence v3.0Source ↗
“I welcome that clarification. I was going to say that part O does not prohibit any form of active cooling where designers can demonstrate that it is appropriate. As I say, part O encourages passive design measures before relying on mechanical systems.”
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“They did consult, very late in the day, on a UK connection test to determine access to social housing. The majority of respondents to that consultation did not agree with the introduction of such a test, and feedback highlighted significant concerns about its feasibility and the cost of implementation. This is really important.”
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“I am sorry to hear about that case; if my hon. Friend wants to write to me with further details, I am more than happy to look into it. I would make two points: local authorities are best placed to decide the types of social homes their communities need and to plan for them appropriately. Local authorities also have a statutory duty to promote adaptations for disabled people in all housing tenures, subject to a needs assessment, and the Government provide the disabled facilities grant to support them. I am happy to write to my hon. Friend with more details about the support that should be in place and the expectations that the Government have in respect of local authorities. If he wants to write to me, I am more than happy to come back to him on the particular points that might arise from the case he has mentioned.”
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“However, councils will also consider whether the household has other needs, as I have referenced, which can mean that social housing is still the right option for them. Repealing these measures provides a fairer and more workable approach. This change will help keep rents affordable for social tenants, especially those on lower and middle incomes, avoid disincentives to work and mean that tenants are not incentivised to reduce their working hours to avoid higher rent. I commend clause 18 to the Committee.”
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“Where tenants want to move or downsize, we expect landlords to support them to do so through transfers or mutual exchanges, which helps people move to properties that are better suited to them, and helps to ensure that social housing is used in the fairest way possible. Where councils and private registered providers choose, they can run voluntary pay-to-stay schemes, which allows landlords to decide whether a scheme is suitable for their area. Councils can also consider an applicant’s income and financial circumstances when deciding whether they qualify for social housing and what priority they should receive. Households with higher incomes may be given less priority, or may not qualify at all.”
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“Some households may have additional needs or circumstances which mean that social housing remains the only viable or appropriate option for them. That can be the case even where their income may be somewhat higher than others on the waiting list. Social housing is targeted at those who need it most, but some tenants’ incomes may rise over time. Our focus is on keeping rents affordable and supporting all social tenants, not penalising tenants for improving their circumstances. As we debated in the previous group, landlords can encourage tenants to move if their circumstances change.”
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“Clause 18 will repeal unimplemented provisions that would have required councils to charge higher rents to higher-income social tenants. We are now removing them to provide certainty and clean up the statute book. The provisions, as with others we have debated this afternoon, were never implemented. Once again, I note that the original provisions in the Housing and Planning Act 2016 received strong objections during the passage of that legislation. A mandatory pay-to-stay scheme would be difficult and costly to administer. Indeed, the previous Government, despite legislating for this policy, chose not to commence it on the explicit basis that the costs outweighed the benefits. Income alone is also not the only determinant of who is allocated social housing.”
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“This allows local and individual circumstances to be taken into account.”
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“Indeed, it is a sad truth that the residualisation of social housing over many years—not least because of the engineered decline of it under previous Conservative Governments, with increased right-to-buy discounts explicitly targeted to ensure that more is sold—has meant that, in most cases, it has become targeted to those on very low incomes, but we do not believe that the new clause is necessary. Eligibility for social housing is considered through the allocations process, and there is no general national income eligibility threshold for social rented housing. As I have made clear, local authorities can take financial resources into account in determining qualification and relative priority under their allocation schemes, subject to statutory requirements, and private registered providers also operate their own lettings polices.”
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“New clause 42 would require the Secretary of State to review income eligibility thresholds for social housing within two years of the Bill’s passage, and every five years thereafter, and to publish the findings and lay them before Parliament. Each review would consider trends over the previous five years in household earnings, regional housing costs, housing affordability and demand for social housing. I recognise the importance of considering income to ensure that social housing is targeted at those most in need.”
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“Before I respond to new clause 42, I must address something that the shadow Minister keeps saying, which is that the Bill does not build any new social housing. I have made this incredibly clear, and I encourage him to go and talk to his local authority, although I am not sure its record on social housing is a particularly good one. Local authorities are very clear and have said to us in plain terms that the measures in the Bill will incentivise them to build more social homes. Of course, it is not the case that this piece of legislation is the only means by which we are building new social and affordable housing. We have a £39 billion social and affordable homes programme, which dwarfs anything that the previous Conservative Government allocated in this area, and there is additional funding to come on top of that.”
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“Question put and agreed to. Clause 18 accordingly ordered to stand part of the Bill. Clause 19 Health and safety lead: Parliamentary procedure Question proposed, That the clause stand part of the Bill.”
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“Income should be considered alongside a household’s wider housing needs and circumstances, but we do not believe that this duty is necessary, or that it would be an appropriate use of resources for the Government to review every one of these independently set thresholds. In repealing the pay-to-stay provisions in the Housing and Planning Act 2016, councils and registered providers will still be able to operate voluntary pay-to-stay schemes for households earning over £60,000 if they wish to do so. That discretion is important and it remains, but there will be no mandatory national requirement. That approach will, as I have said, avoid disincentives for people to work or increase their earnings, and will support a more sensible system overall. I therefore ask that the new clause not be pressed, and I commend clause 18 to the Committee.”
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“On the new clause, it is important to be clear that only a very small minority of social housing lettings are to high-income households. This is based on household income, not individual income, and in many cases could reflect two people each earning a modest salary, rather than a single person on what anyone would reasonably describe as a high income. Some households may have additional needs or circumstances that mean that social housing remains, as I have said, the only viable or appropriate option for them. That can be the case even when their income may be somewhat higher than that of others on the waiting list.”
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“I thank my hon. Friend for the invitation to become ungracious in respect of Opposition Members. I remember the debates in that 2016 Bill Committee. Those were deeply ideological measures, but I think it says everything that Conservative Ministers decided they were impractical, unworkable, could not be implemented, and made it clear— [ Interruption. ] They did. I encourage Opposition Members to go and read the 2018 social housing Green Paper, in which Conservative Ministers made it very clear that huge administrative burdens would come from some of these measures, in addition to their detrimental impact on tenants and communities. What we are doing is going a step further, as I have said, and removing these measures, and the uncertainty they create, from the statute book.”
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“The clause does not confer any new powers or reduce the level of parliamentary scrutiny; it simply ensures that the existing statutory provisions operate clearly and consistently. I commend the clause to the Committee. Question put and agreed to. Clause 19 accordingly ordered to stand part of the Bill. New Clause 21 Management of local authority housing by TMOs “Schedule ( Management of local authority housing by TMOs ) makes provision about the management of local authority housing accommodation by tenant management organisations.”— (Matthew Pennycook.) This would introduce NS1 which provides for a revised and expanded legislative regime about the management of council housing by tenant management organisations. Brought up, and read the First time.”
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“Clause 19 will make a minor technical amendment to the Housing and Regeneration Act 2008, section 320 of which sets out the parliamentary procedure that applies to regulations made under its provisions. Regulations made under sections 70, 72 and 126A are subject to the affirmative procedure, which means that a draft of the regulations must be laid before and approved by both Houses of Parliament before they can be made. However, the provision governing the negative procedure currently excludes only regulations made under sections 70 and 72; it does not also refer to section 126A. Clause 19 corrects that inconsistency and ensures that all regulations that section 320 specifies as being subject to the affirmative procedure are properly excluded from the negative procedure.”
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“(6) A notice under subsection (5) may require the information to be provided— (a) within a specified period; (b) in a specified manner or form. (7) The Secretary of State may by regulations make provision for the purposes of subsection (2) as to what constitutes— (a) a reasonable period; (b) a good reason. save-line2(8) “Low cost rental accommodation” has the same meaning as in the Housing and Regeneration Act 2008 (see section 69) (9) An offer made under this section is not an offer of accommodation under Part 6 (allocation of housing).’”— (Matthew Pennycook.) Brought up, and read the First time.”
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“(3) If the provider considers that there is a good reason not to make an offer of low cost rental accommodation in the authority’s district, the provider must, as soon as reasonably practicable, give written notice of the reason to the local housing authority. (4) In deciding whether to make a request under subsection (1)(b), the local housing authority must have regard to— (a) the type and amount of low cost rental accommodation that the provider in question owns or manages in the authority’s district, and (b) the extent to which the provider is already providing accommodation in the authority’s district to persons who are homeless. (5) The local housing authority may by written notice require the provider to provide the information described in subsection (4)(a) or (b), unless it is not reasonably practicable to do so.”
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“New Clause 22 Duty of private registered provider to offer accommodation after local authority request “(1) After section 193C of the Housing Act 1996 insert— ‘193D Duty of private registered provider to offer accommodation after local authority request (1) This section applies where— (a) a local housing authority in England has a duty under section 193 to secure accommodation for an applicant, and (b) the authority has made a written request to a private registered provider of social housing to provide low cost rental accommodation in the authority’s district for the applicant. (2) The provider must make an offer of low cost rental accommodation in the authority’s district to the applicant within a reasonable period, unless the provider has a good reason not to.”
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“Friend the Member for Dulwich and West Norwood (Helen Hayes) about the ability of councils to act swiftly where serious failings are putting residents at risk. We know that many TMOs work hard to deliver good-quality housing services that respond to local priorities and are supported by tenants who give up their own time to serve on committees. These reforms will make the right to manage easier to exercise, clearer to operate and safer for residents. They will support resident empowerment while ensuring that landlords have the tools they need to meet their regulatory requirements and safeguard residents. Question put and agreed to. New clause 21 accordingly read a Second time, and added to the Bill.”
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“Proposed new sections 27AG to 27AL will also require regular reviews of the management agreements, strengthen the requirements for residents to be balloted on continuation of TMO arrangements, and require better information sharing between TMOs and their landlords. They will also strengthen requirements on landlords to consult TMOs on policy changes affecting functions exercised under management agreements. Proposed new sections 27AM to 27AQ will create a targeted court-backed route for intervention in exceptional cases, including removal of board members where there is serious mismanagement of a TMO or a risk to residents’ safety. That route will be subject to judicial oversight, with the court required to be satisfied that urgent intervention is appropriate. That will help to address the concerns raised by my hon.”
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“Those provisions will also provide broader powers to strengthen the framework governing right to manage arrangements, helping to ensure that it keeps pace with wider regulatory requirements, including on the safety and decency of social homes and quality of services to tenants. These are enabling powers that will allow us to update the right to manage regulations and guidance to govern management agreements, ballots of residents, regular reviews and information sharing. The powers will come into effect on Royal Assent, but we will consult on the detail before introducing the new regulations and guidance.”
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“They highlighted the need for governance that is more proportionate and for greater clarity on roles, responsibilities and information sharing. We also heard from landlords and residents that the current routes for intervention if things go wrong can be slow and cumbersome. Within schedule 1, proposed new sections 27AD to 27AF of the Housing Act 1985 will enable a more proportionate approach to governance requirements. They will put in place lighter-touch requirements where residents take on more limited services, and stronger requirements where tenant management organisations assume more complex functions, including building safety responsibilities.”
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“The right to manage can be a powerful tool through which social housing residents can take greater control of the housing services that they receive, but it must operate within a clear, robust framework that protects residents and clarifies respective responsibilities. Taken together, these changes will update and strengthen the right to manage, making it easier for social housing tenants to exercise that right with confidence, while ensuring that appropriate safeguards are in place. These reforms have been informed by the findings of the review of the right to manage that was undertaken by the Government. Through the review, we heard clearly from stakeholders that the current right to manage framework has not kept pace with wider regulatory change.”
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“(2) After subsection (4) insert— ‘(4ZA) The Secretary of State may by regulations specify circumstances in which— (a) the conditions for referral mentioned in subsection (2), (b) the conditions for referral mentioned in subsection (2ZA), or (c) the conditions for referral mentioned in subsection (4), are not met for the purposes of referral of a case by a local housing authority in England.’ (3) In subsection (7) after ‘order’, in the first two places it occurs, insert ‘or regulations’.”— (Matthew Pennycook.) This would allow the Secretary of State to make regulations specifying circumstances where a local housing authority in England cannot refer a person who is homeless to another local housing authority. Brought up, and read the First time.”
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“The approach builds on established practice in Scotland and delivers a commitment in our national plan to end homelessness. I commend the new clause to the Committee. Question put and agreed to. New clause 22 accordingly read a Second time, and added to the Bill. New Clause 23 Referral of homelessness cases to other local housing authorities “(1) Section 198 of the Housing Act 1996 (referral of case) is amended in accordance with subsections (2) and (3).”
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“The provider must respond and offer suitable accommodation within a reasonable period unless it has good reason not to do so. We will consult councils, housing providers and other relevant providers before setting out in regulations what constitutes a reasonable period and a good reason, but, to give an example, a private registered provider would not be expected to offer accommodation if they do not have anything suitable available in a reasonable timeframe. The power includes important safeguards. Before making a referral, the council must take account of the type and amount of accommodation that the provider has locally, and the extent to which it is already housing homeless households. That will ensure that referrals are fair and proportionate and that they reflect local circumstances.”
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“I beg to move, That the clause be read a Second time. Many councils and housing associations already work closely together to secure settled homes for people facing homelessness. We are committed to building on the many examples of good practice and collaboration that exist, but informal agreements between councils and other providers do not always work. Private registered providers are less likely than councils to offer accommodation to homeless households. New clause 22 will give local housing authorities an additional tool to help them to discharge the main homelessness duty. Where a council owes a household the main homelessness duty, it will be able to ask a private registered provider with social housing in its area to offer social housing to that household.”
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“The existing legislation permits a local housing authority to refer someone who is seeking housing support, but does not have any connections to their local area, to the area of another local housing authority where they do. New clause 23 provides a power for the Secretary of State to define in regulations where that should not apply. We propose to use that power to exempt our armed forces veterans from local connection referrals. That means that there will be no barriers or delays to veterans receiving homelessness assistance. They will be able to seek support from anywhere in the country, and the local authority will be required to provide assistance. This builds on the action that we took last year to exempt veterans from any local connection test that councils might apply to determine who qualifies for an allocation of social housing.”
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“New clauses 23 and 24 will strengthen homelessness prevention and ensure that support reaches those who need it most, as quickly as possible. We owe a debt of gratitude to those who have served in our armed forces. They have given so much of their life in service to their country, and it is right that we support them to have a safe home on leaving active service. The number of former armed service personnel seeking homelessness support is thankfully relatively small, but the Government recognise that those who do so can face challenges, particularly if they seek to establish themselves in an area where they may have no existing local connections.”
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“Preventing homelessness should not be the responsibility of a single organisation. People at risk of homelessness often have multiple and overlapping needs, including poor health, unemployment, financial hardship or involvement with the justice system. No single service can address these issues effectively alone.”
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“The new clause addresses this challenge by introducing new duties on specified bodies to identify and act on a person’s homelessness or risk of homelessness. This supports the Government’s commitment to prevent and relieve homelessness at the earliest possible stage. The specified bodies will also be required to take meaningful action as part of the existing functions to address or relieve homelessness. The duty will replace and extend the existing duty to refer. It will mandate earlier engagement with local housing authorities, alongside notifying them if someone requires support. It also mandates continued engagement with the local authority to enable it to support an individual as effectively as possible, and will require specified bodies to consider other sources of support for the individual.”
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“I very much welcome my hon. Friend’s support for this measure. I am more than happy to have an ongoing dialogue about the issue with her, as I do with so many others. It is absolutely right that we look to do everything possible to support our veterans. I turn to new clause 24. We know that homelessness rarely occurs without warning. Yet too often, people come to the attention of local housing authorities only when they have already reached crisis point. Many of them will have been in contact with different public services long before, but opportunities to identify risk, co-ordinate support and intervene early are often missed. People often face homelessness despite engaging with services that are well placed to help prevent it.”
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“These new duties build on existing good practice and should drive a consistent national framework to support those who are most vulnerable. The Government intend to define in secondary legislation the bodies within scope and the actions required to comply with the duty, but my officials and I have heard the point that my hon. Friend the Member for Uxbridge and South Ruislip makes.”
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“I appreciate my hon. Friend’s points. We will set out the specified bodies in due course. I hear what he says about hospital trusts in particular. I think engagement is to take place on the precise scope of the specified bodies that we want to be caught by the new duty. On the point of principle—these are broad enabling powers—effective prevention depends on earlier identification, co-ordinated action and shared responsibility across services. Importantly, this is not about creating an entirely new system. Many services already undertake these activities to support homelessness prevention, whether by identifying vulnerabilities, signposting support, making referrals or working with partners to resolve housing issues.”
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“(4) In section 218 (index of defined expression Part 7) insert in the table at the appropriate places— ‘relevant steps section 213AC(3)’; ‘specified body section 213AB(2)’.” — (Matthew Pennycook.) This would amend the Housing Act 1996 to introduce a duty for specified bodies to identify and act on homelessness. Brought up, read the First and Second time, and added to the Bill. Ordered, That further consideration be now adjourned.— (Laurence Turner.)”
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“(3) If a provision under subsection (2) specifies a particular function of a specified body, any reference in sections 213AB to 213AG to the functions of a specified body has effect in relation that body only as a reference to that particular function. (4) In this section, “regulations’ means regulations made by the Secretary of State. (5) Regulations under this section may not be made unless a draft of the statutory instrument containing them (whether alone or with other provisions) has been laid before, and approved by a resolution of, each House of Parliament.’ (3) Omit section 213B (duty of public authority to refer cases in England to local housing authority).”
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“213AH “Specified bodies” and other interpretation (1) In sections 213AB to 213AG and this section— “duty to engage” means the duty imposed by section 213AF for specified bodies to engage with local housing authorities; “duty to identify homelessness” means the duty imposed by section 213AB; “duty to notify the local housing authority” has the meaning given in section 213AD; “general duty to act” has the meaning given in section 213AE; “H” has the meaning given in section 213AC; “relevant step” has the meaning given in section 213AC; “specified body” means a body or other person that is— (a) specified in regulations, or (b) of a description specified in regulations. (2) Regulations made under this section may provide that a person is a specified body only in relation to a particular function exercised by that person.”
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“(4) The Secretary of State may issue guidance to specified bodies in relation to any of the following duties— (a) the duty to identify homelessness; (b) the duty to notify the local housing authority; (c) the general duty to act; (d) the duty to engage. (5) Specified bodies must have regard to guidance issued to them under subsection (4).”
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“(2) Regulations made under subsection (1) may, in particular, make provision about the following matters— (a) factors to be considered by a specified body when identifying whether a person is homeless, threatened by homelessness or otherwise at risk of becoming homeless; (b) what information is necessary to make a notification to a local housing authority in England; (c) what relevant steps by a specified body in the exercise of its functions are reasonable; (d) the process to be followed by a specified body when identifying which persons it is appropriate to raise the question in section 213AE(2)(b) with. (3) Regulations under subsection (1) may not be made unless a draft of the statutory instrument containing them (whether alone or with other provisions) has been laid before, and approved by a resolution of, each House of Parliament.”
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“(2) The local housing authority may ask the specified body to engage with them for the purpose of assisting the authority with the discharge of their functions under this Part in relation to that person. (3) The specified body must engage with the local housing authority in such manner and to such extent as the body considers reasonable in the circumstances. 213AG Regulations and guidance (1) The Secretary of State may by regulations make provision about how specified bodies can or must comply with— (a) the duty to identify homelessness, (b) the duty to notify the local housing authority, (c) the general duty to act, or (d) the duty to engage.”
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“(6) A reference in this section to a relevant step— (a) includes a relevant step that can be taken with the assistance of another person; (b) in relation to a specified body, only includes a relevant step that the body can reasonably take in the exercise of its functions; (c) in relation to a person who is not a specified body, only includes a relevant step that the person can reasonably take in the exercise of their functions or in carrying out their activities. 213AF Duty to engage with local housing authorities (1) This section applies where a local housing authority in England considers— (a) that a person is or may be homeless, threatened with homelessness or otherwise at risk of becoming homeless, and (b) that a specified body exercises functions in relation to that person.”
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“(3) After complying with subsection (2) the specified body— (a) must take any relevant steps which it concludes it can take, and (b) must provide to the persons with which it has raised that question reasonable assistance to assist or enable them to take relevant steps. (4) This section does not affect any right of the specified body, whether by virtue of a contract, enactment or other law, to seek to obtain vacant possession of any accommodation. (5) If a specified body must also comply with the duty to notify in relation to H, making the notification under section 213AD(5) does not satisfy the general duty to act in relation to H.”
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“(5) If H agrees to the specified body making the notification and consents to the body sharing the information that is necessary to make the notification, the body must notify the local housing authority in England to which H would like the notification to be made. 213AE The general duty to act (1) The “general duty to act” in relation to H consists of the duties set out in this section. (2) The specified body must— (a) consider the question of what relevant steps could be taken by it or other persons, and (b) raise that question with such persons as the body considers appropriate, who must include any other persons that could take relevant steps.”
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“(3) If H has not made an application for assistance, the specified body must ask whether H agrees to the body notifying a local housing authority in England— (a) that the body considers that H is or may be homeless or threatened with homelessness, and (b) how H may be contacted by the local housing authority. (4) If H agrees to the specified body making the notification, the body must ask H— (a) whether H consents to the body sharing with the authority such information as is necessary to make the notification (including information provided by H and information already held by the body), and (b) to identify a local housing authority in England to which H would like the notification to be made.”
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“(4) A “relevant step”, in relation to H, means a step to— (a) prevent H becoming homeless, (b) reduce the risk of H becoming homeless, (c) relieve H’s homelessness, or (d) alleviate the effects of H’s homelessness. 213AD The duty to notify the local housing authority (1) The “duty to notify the local housing authority” in relation to H consists of the duties set out in this section. (2) The specified body must ask H— (a) whether H has made an application for assistance under this Part, and (b) if so, to which local housing authority the application was made.”
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“213AC Specified bodies must act on actual or possible homelessness (1) A specified body must comply with the duty to notify the local housing authority (see section 213AD) in relation to a person (H) if the body identifies H as a person who the body considers is or may be— (a) homeless, or (b) threatened with homelessness. (2) But the specified body does not need to comply with the duty to notify if it is satisfied that— (a) H has already made an application for assistance, and (b) the application has not been disposed of. (3) A specified body must comply with the general duty to act (see section 213AE) in relation to a person (H) if the body identifies H as a person who the body considers is or may be— (a) homeless, (b) threatened with homelessness, or (c) otherwise at risk of becoming homeless.”
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“(2) After section 213AA insert— ‘213AB Specified bodies must identify actual or possible homelessness (1) A specified body must take reasonable steps to identify persons in England in relation to whom it exercises functions who it considers are or may be— (a) homeless, (b) threatened with homelessness, or (c) otherwise at risk of becoming homeless. (2) When a specified body becomes subject to that duty in relation to a particular person (taking into account any effect of regulations made under section 213AG(1)), the body must comply with the duty promptly.”
House of Commons27 October 2026Contains Parliamentary information licensed under the Open Parliament Licence v3.0Source ↗
“By creating a more joined-up approach to homelessness prevention, we can help more people to remain in their homes, shift the system away from crisis response and deliver our ambition on homelessness and rough sleeping, as the Prime Minister has rightly outlined. I commend the new clauses to the Committee. Question put and agreed to. New clause 23 accordingly read a Second time, and added to the Bill. New Clause 24 Duties of specified bodies to collaborate and act on homelessness “(1) This section amends the Housing Act 1996.”
House of Commons27 October 2026Contains Parliamentary information licensed under the Open Parliament Licence v3.0Source ↗
“If the hon. Member will allow me, I will write to him on that specific point; I do not have an answer to hand. I am more than happy to set out how these provisions might work where multiple local authorities are involved. I take his point on that. As I say, we intend to define in secondary legislation the bodies within scope and the actions required to comply with the duty. This will allow us to work closely with stakeholders to ensure that implementation is proportionate and effective and that it reflects the differing functions of individual services. Ultimately, the new clause is about ensuring that services work together to identify risks earlier and intervene before people reach crisis point.”
House of Commons27 October 2026Contains Parliamentary information licensed under the Open Parliament Licence v3.0Source ↗
“Their objective is twofold: first, to reduce funding shortfalls and improve the financial sustainability of local authority planning departments, which they will achieve by providing a significant and immediate increase in funding for planning application services; and secondly, to establish a more robust baseline for the operation of future local fee-setting arrangements, which will be implemented through separate regulations later this year.”
House of Commons21 October 2026Contains Parliamentary information licensed under the Open Parliament Licence v3.0Source ↗