Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government written question – answered at on 22 June 2026.
David Simmonds
Opposition Whip (Commons), Shadow Minister (Levelling Up, Housing and Communities)
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps he is taking with Cabinet colleagues to improve the provision of nursery places in and near large new developments.
Matthew Pennycook
Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
The importance of ensuring that a sufficient choice of early years places is available to meet the needs of existing and new communities is recognised in the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF).
It makes clear that local planning authorities should give great weight to the need to create, expand or alter early years facilities through the preparation of plans and decisions on applications, and work promoters, delivery partners and statutory bodies to identify and resolve key planning issues before applications are submitted.
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 designed to support the delivery of new and improved community facilities and public service infrastructure.
We are currently analysing the feedback received and will publish our response in due course.
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Secretary of State was originally the title given to the two officials who conducted the Royal Correspondence under Elizabeth I. Now it is the title held by some of the more important Government Ministers, for example the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs.
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