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My Right Honourable Friend the Minister of State for Housing and Planning (Matthew Pennycook MP) has today made the following statement:
This government has acted with ambition and urgency to tackle the acute and entrenched housing crisis in England, including by means of a bold overhaul of the planning system. In...
My Right Honourable Friend the Minister of State for Housing and Planning (Matthew Pennycook MP) has today made the following statement:
This government has acted with ambition and urgency to tackle the acute and entrenched housing crisis in England, including by means of a bold overhaul of the planning system. In...
This government has acted with ambition and urgency to tackle the acute and entrenched housing crisis in England, including by means of a bold overhaul of the planning system. In December 2024, we revised the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF), reversing the previous government’s anti-supply changes; implementing a new standard...
This government has acted with ambition and urgency to tackle the acute and entrenched housing crisis in England, including by means of a bold overhaul of the planning system. In December 2024, we revised the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF), reversing the previous government’s anti-supply changes; implementing a new standard...
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps his Department is taking to address local authority playing field accessibility.
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps his Department is taking to address local authority playing field accessibility.
The National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF), published in December 2024, sets out that access to high quality open spaces and opportunities for sport and physical activity are important for the health and well-being of communities, and can deliver wider benefits for nature and support efforts to address climate change. Additionally, plans should make sufficient provision for green infrastructure, which is defined as a multifunctional network of green and blue spaces.
Planning policies should be based on robust and up-to-date assessments of the need for open space, sport and recreation facilities (including quantitative or qualitative deficits or surpluses) and opportunities for new provision. Information gained from the assessments should be used to determine what open space, sport and recreational provision is needed, which plans should then seek to accommodate.
The NPPF is also clear that open space should not be built on unless there is clear evidence it is no longer required, or equivalent or better provision is secured in a suitable location, or development of the site is for alternative sports and recreational provision, the benefits of which clearly outweigh the loss of the current or former use.
Between 16 December 2025 and 10 March 2026, we consulted on a new NPPF. That consultation, which can be found on gov.uk here, includes proposals to give substantial weight to development proposals that provide new or improved community facilities such as facilities for play, sport and informal recreation, and proposes safeguards against the loss of existing open space.
The draft NPPF also includes a new requirement for local plans to set standards for green infrastructure drawing on Natural England’s Green Infrastructure Framework. The Green Infrastructure Framework includes a standard on accessible greenspace which sets criteria on size, proximity and quality.
Additionally, our proposed policy clearly sets out that development proposals should make sure that green infrastructure is located and designed to minimise risk of future failure, and that appropriate measures are in place for any necessary long-term management.
We are currently analysing the feedback received and will publish our response in due course.
The Leader of the House has many skills, as we all know, but many Members will not know that footballing skills are among them. In this world cup season, I suggest to him that playing fields have an important role in the football narrative of many boys and girls, and...
The Leader of the House has many skills, as we all know, but many Members will not know that footballing skills are among them. In this world cup season, I suggest to him that playing fields have an important role in the football narrative of many boys and girls, and...
I regret to say that I think the right hon. Gentleman is mixing me up with someone else if he thinks I have footballing skills, but I will plough on regardless. Let me be very clear: it is important that we protect our playing fields. We do need houses—homes—so that...
I regret to say that I think the right hon. Gentleman is mixing me up with someone else if he thinks I have footballing skills, but I will plough on regardless. Let me be very clear: it is important that we protect our playing fields. We do need houses—homes—so that...
This briefing provides information on the provision of physical education and sport in schools, including national curriculum requirements, funding, the School Games, and regulations relating to school playing fields.
This briefing provides information on the provision of physical education and sport in schools, including national curriculum requirements, funding, the School Games, and regulations relating to school playing fields.
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, whether she has had discussions with (a) Birmingham City Council, (b) the West Midlands Combined Authority, and (c) any other public body on development proposals on the Wood Lane Playing Fields in Handsworth Wood, Birmingham.
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, whether she has had discussions with (a) Birmingham City Council, (b) the West Midlands Combined Authority, and (c) any other public body on development proposals on the Wood Lane Playing Fields in Handsworth Wood, Birmingham.
The ongoing responsibility of providing access to public leisure facilities lies at local authority level, with funding levels set as part of the Local Government Finance Settlement. The Government encourages local authorities to make investments which offer the right opportunities and facilities for the communities they serve.
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if she will keep the hon. Member for Birmingham Perry Barr informed of any development proposal relating to the Wood Lane Playing Fields in Handsworth Wood, Birmingham.
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if she will keep the hon. Member for Birmingham Perry Barr informed of any development proposal relating to the Wood Lane Playing Fields in Handsworth Wood, Birmingham.
The ongoing responsibility of providing access to public leisure facilities lies at local authority level, with funding levels set as part of the Local Government Finance Settlement. The Government encourages local authorities to make investments which offer the right opportunities and facilities for the communities they serve.
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what correspondences her Department has had with Birmingham City Council regarding the Wood Lane Playing Fields in Handsworth Wood, Birmingham.
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what correspondences her Department has had with Birmingham City Council regarding the Wood Lane Playing Fields in Handsworth Wood, Birmingham.
The ongoing responsibility of providing access to public leisure facilities lies at local authority level, with funding levels set as part of the Local Government Finance Settlement. The Government encourages local authorities to make investments which offer the right opportunities and facilities for the communities they serve.
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of the condition and usability of publicly accessible sports pitches and playing fields in England since 2020; and how many (a) have been classified as fully usable, (b) require minor repair...
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of the condition and usability of publicly accessible sports pitches and playing fields in England since 2020; and how many (a) have been classified as fully usable, (b) require minor repair...
The Government is committed to ensuring that everyone has access to quality sports pitches and playing fields.
According to Sport England’s Active Places database, as of March 2026, there are currently 53,531 operational publicly accessible sports pitches in England, and 5,066 out of use.
Our Multi-Sport Grassroots Facilities Programme provides capital investment for new and improved grassroots facilities. £85m will be invested through the programme in the UK in 2026/27.
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether his Department has made an estimate of the number of playing fields that will be developed as a result of proposals to remove Sport England as a statutory consultee.
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether his Department has made an estimate of the number of playing fields that will be developed as a result of proposals to remove Sport England as a statutory consultee.
The National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) includes strong protections for existing open space, sports and recreational buildings, and land, including playing fields, setting out that they should not be built on unless they are no longer needed, equivalent or better provision is made, or the development is for alternative sports or recreational provision which offers benefits that clearly outweigh the loss of the current or former use.
The government recently consulted on a new NPPF that includes clearer, more rules-based policies for decision-making and plan-making. The consultation included updated policy on development affecting existing recreation facilities, including playing fields. We are currently analysing the feedback received and will publish our response in due course.
The government is committed to maintaining and improving our stock of playing fields. We recognise that Sport England can play a valuable strategic role in supporting local planning authorities in the development of local planning policy. However, we do not believe that statutory consultation on individual cases to a national body is proportionate.
In our recent consultation on reforms to the statutory consultee system, we proposed a series of mitigations which could minimise the potential impacts of removing Sport England’s statutory consultee status, while delivering the benefits of reducing regulatory requirements. These include the introduction of a new notification requirement in relation to housing and commercial development on playing fields. Under this approach, local planning authorities would be required to notify Sport England when such applications would result in the wholesale or substantial loss of playing fields.
The consultation closed on 13 January 2026, and we are currently analysing the feedback received.
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of removing Sport England as a statutory planning consultee on the future provision of playing fields, pitches and community sports facilities.
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of removing Sport England as a statutory planning consultee on the future provision of playing fields, pitches and community sports facilities.
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, how the proposed revised National Planning Policy Framework will protect and enhance playing fields, pitches and community sports facilities.
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, how the proposed revised National Planning Policy Framework will protect and enhance playing fields, pitches and community sports facilities.
I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 107478 on 30 January 2026.
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of removing Sport England as a statutory planning consultee on the future provision of playing fields, pitches and community sports facilities.
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of removing Sport England as a statutory planning consultee on the future provision of playing fields, pitches and community sports facilities.
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if he will make an assessment of the potential impact of the revised National Planning Policy Framework on playing fields, pitches and community sports facilities.
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if he will make an assessment of the potential impact of the revised National Planning Policy Framework on playing fields, pitches and community sports facilities.
I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 107478 on 30 January 2026.
That this House supports the Protect Where We Play campaign; notes the concerns raised by the Wiltshire Football Association and grassroots sports organisations across Wiltshire, including in Chippenham, regarding the Government’s proposals to weaken planning protections for playing fields; further notes that the proposed removal of Sport England as a statutory consultee would significantly reduce national oversight established in 1996 to prevent the permanent loss of playing fields to development; recognises that in Wiltshire grassroots football delivers substantial economic value and savings to the NHS, supported by thousands of volunteers, coaches and referees; further recognises that playing fields are essential community assets for physical and mental health, children and young people’s development, social cohesion and community wellbeing, and that once lost to development such assets are exceptionally difficult to replace; also notes that there is already an acute shortage of good quality football pitches in Wiltshire, limiting participation at a time when involvement in football, particularly among women and girls, is increasing; believes that weakening statutory protections risks irreversible harm to communities; and calls on the Government to retain Sport England as a statutory consultee, to maintain strong national planning protections for playing fields, and to work with organisations such as the Wiltshire FA to protect and improve grassroots sports facilities for current and future generations.
That this House supports the Protect Where We Play campaign; notes the concerns raised by the Wiltshire Football Association and grassroots sports organisations across Wiltshire, including in Chippenham, regarding the Government’s proposals to weaken planning protections for playing fields; further notes that the proposed removal of Sport England as a...
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps he is taking to help ensure that playing fields are not used for development in North Shropshire constituency.
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps he is taking to help ensure that playing fields are not used for development in North Shropshire constituency.
The National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) includes strong protections for existing open space, sports and recreational buildings, and land, including playing fields, setting out that they should not be built on unless they are no longer needed, equivalent or better provision is made, or the development is for alternative sports or recreational provision which offers benefits that clearly outweigh the loss of the current or former use.
The government is consulting on a new NPPF that includes clearer, more rules-based policies for decision-making and plan-making. The consultation includes updated policy on development affecting existing recreation facilities, including playing fields.
The consultation will remain open for responses until 10 March 2026 and can be found on gov.uk here.
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what impact assessment has been done for the removal of Sports England as a statutory consultee for the planning application involving playing fields.
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what impact assessment has been done for the removal of Sports England as a statutory consultee for the planning application involving playing fields.
I refer the hon. Members to the answer given to Question UIN 103087 on 13 January 2026.