Select committee: Public Accounts Committee
Conclusion 7
46th Report - Improving local areas through developer funding
Published 17 Oct 2025
Addressed to HM Treasury
Public Accounts Committee Improving local areas through developer funding All items in this report Report on parliament.uk ↗ Inquiry on parliament.uk ↗
Conclusion (the committee's words)
The Department does not facilitate effective communication or the sharing of best practice between stakeholders. Given that developer contributions help to fund a wide range of infrastructure such as schools, health facilities and roads, other government departments have a clear interest in the system. But they have mixed views on the quality and timeliness of communication with the Department. It explains that it is considering establishing a standing forum for government departments to share information, discuss relevant policy updates and identify areas of overlap. LPAs have also expressed a desire for more direct engagement with the Department on planning matters and live issues relating to developer contributions. There is variation across the country in how well local bodies engage with the system and co-operate with each other. Despite the devolved nations having similar systems of developer contributions, and some of the same issues, there is no formal mechanism for the Department to communicate and share best practice across the UK. 5 recommendation In its Treasury Minute response, the Department should provide the Committee with further details of how it will sponsor more effective communication between: government departments that have a stake in developer contributions; local planning authorities and other local bodies; and the devolved nations, to share best practice. 6 1 Systemic problems Introduction
From: Public Accounts Committee, 46th Report - Improving local areas through developer funding (HC 886), 17 October 2025
Government response
Latest Treasury Minutes progress report to the Committee of Public Accounts on the Forty-sixth Report of Session 2024-26
The government responded to the whole report on 4 June 2026 (deadline 17 December 2025).
Treasury minutes: Government response to the Committee of Public Accounts on the Forty-sixth report from Session 2024-26
Published 19 January 2026.
Summary written by Accountability Index from the government's response. It is not the government's own words.The government states that it agrees with each of the Committee's recommendations on developer contributions, with target implementation dates ranging from spring 2026 to autumn 2026 and some marked 'Recommendation implemented'.
- On infrastructure funding statements, the department "will therefore explore proportionate and efficient ways of collecting and analysing data from IFSs", with a target date of autumn 2026.
- On local plans, it says it is "committed to taking tough action" and has made clear its "willingness to make full use of available intervention powers", with intervention considered "on a case-by-case basis".
- On viability guidance, it "will be consulting on a revised National Planning Policy Framework before the end of this year" and "intends to publish" updated viability practice guidance alongside it, with a target date of summer 2026.
- On unsold Section 106 homes, it is progressing "a holistic policy package, to be confirmed shortly", with a target date of spring 2026.