PARLIAMENTARY WRITTEN QUESTION
(20 February 2026)

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether he has considered the potential merits of encouraging the inclusion of multiuse sports venues, such as lakes, as part of new housing developments.

Asked by:
Sir Julian Smith (Conservative)

The National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) recognises that access to a network of high-quality open spaces and opportunities for sport and physical activity are important for the health and wellbeing of communities, as well as delivering wider benefits for nature and support efforts to address climate change.

The Framework makes clear that 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 government is currently consulting on a new NPPF that includes clearer, more rules-based policies for decision-making and plan-making. The consultation includes policies supporting the delivery of new and improved community facilities, which includes sports facilities.

The consultation will remain open for responses until 10 March 2026 and can be found on gov.uk here.

Answered by:
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