Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

National Planning Policy Framework: Proposed Health Inequality Duty

Monday 15 June 2026 · 3 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 0 Partly answered 3 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Government consulted on a new national planning policy framework including proposals to promote healthy communities
  • Feedback from the consultation is being analyzed, and a response will be published later
  • The new NPPF recognizes the importance of safeguarding local green spaces and excludes them from grey-belt land definitions

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Beccy Cooper Lab Worthing West
Context

The MP is concerned about health inequalities driven by social determinants such as access to green spaces, which are vital for physical and mental health.

Question

What assessment has the government made of adding a health inequality duty to the national planning policy framework?

Answer from Matthew Pennycook

The Government recently consulted on a new national planning policy framework that includes proposals designed to promote healthy communities. Feedback is currently being analysed, and a response will be published in due course.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific assessment of adding a health inequality duty was not provided.

How: Under Review

Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)

Q2 Beccy Cooper Lab Worthing West
Environment
Context

The MP highlights the low amount of green space per person in her constituency, which is associated with lower life expectancy.

Question

In my constituency of Worthing West, we have less than a snooker table's worth of green space per person. Could the Minister set out how the Department is working across Government to ensure that this essential health determinant is being secured and increased across all areas?

Answer from Matthew Pennycook

The new NPPF recognises the importance of safeguarding local green spaces and ensures that such spaces are excluded from grey-belt land definitions. These areas provide significant benefits for health and community assets.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Details on interdepartmental work to secure and increase green spaces were not provided.

How: Working With Partners

Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)

Q3 Kit Malthouse Con North West Hampshire
Environment
Context

The MP is concerned about two planning decisions in his constituency that risk setting a precedent for large-scale industrial development in national landscapes.

Question

May I urge the Minister to consider adding greater protections for our national landscapes? There have been two outrageous decisions by the planning inspector involving car parks and solar farms near Whitchurch and St Mary Bourne, respectively. Will he strengthen those protections?

Answer from Matthew Pennycook

The Minister is willing to discuss the two cases in question with the right hon. Gentleman and consider how decisions interact with NPPF proposals.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Commitments on strengthening protections for national landscapes were not provided.

How: To Be Discussed Further

Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)