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Housing: Construction

Asked by Kevin HollinrakeConservativeMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled Answered 21 March 2025UIN 37215

The question

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if she will make an assessment of the potential impact of the non-regression principle in the EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement on her Department's ability to introduce deregulatory measures to increase housebuilding.

Answered by Matthew Pennycook

The government is committed to unlocking and accelerating the building of new homes without reducing relevant protections. For example, the new Nature Restoration Fund provided for by the Planning and Infrastructure Bill will enable developers to fund restoration more efficiently whilst securing improved outcomes for the environment. As such, the Bill would not have the effect of reducing the level of environmental protection of existing environmental law and the Secretary of State has confirmed as much via a statement under section 20(3) of the Environment Act.

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