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Playing Fields: Planning Permission

Asked by Sarah OwenLabourMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled Answered 1 December 2025UIN 93450

The question

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what discussions she has had with the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport on the impact of Sport England’s consultee status on planning applications for playing fields.

Answered by Matthew Pennycook

The Secretary of State has regular discussions with Cabinet colleagues on a wide range of issues. In line with the practice of successive administrations, details of internal discussions are not normally disclosed.

A consultation on reforms to the statutory consultee system is underway and can be found on gov.uk here.

The consultation asks for views on the impacts of removing Sport England’s status as a statutory consultee as part of our work to align the statutory consultee system with the development and economic growth objectives set out in our Plan for Change.

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