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Housing Estates: Roads

Asked by Sarah PochinReform UKMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled Answered 19 January 2026UIN 104443

The question

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether Homes England plans to include (a) mandatory road adoption provisions and (b) time limits for entering into Section 38 agreements within future land-disposal contracts with developers.

Answered by Matthew Pennycook

Decisions on whether to adopt roads are matters for the relevant local highway authority.

When disposing of land, Homes England does not currently require the mandatory adoption of roads.

The adoption of roads under s38 of the Highways Act 1980 is reliant on negotiations between the relevant developer and local highways authority. Homes England has no direct role in the process.

I otherwise refer the hon. Member to the Written Ministerial Statement made on 18 December 2025 (HCWS1210).

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