Asked by: Mike Amesbury (Labour - Weaver Vale)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, how many applications to the Building Safety Fund there were (a) in the initial phase from July 2020 and (b) since it reopened in July 2022.
Answered by Lee Rowley - Minister of State (Minister for Housing)
As at 29 February 2024, there have been 3,628 buildings that have applied to the Building Safety Fund. Of these, 3,488 buildings applied in the first tranche of opening and 140 applied in the second tranche of opening. Of the total that applied: 1,096 are ineligible – 1,089 are from the first tranche of opening and seven are from the second tranche. Further information about the status of buildings can be found at the following link.
The Cladding Safety Scheme via Homes England provides details on allocated spend for each building. Since its launch in July, it has interacted with over 1,000 buildings. 450 are currently engaging with the application process, carrying out technical reports to enable eligibility assessment. Within its first nine months, 170 buildings have been deemed eligible via technical assessment and can now progress with the relevant support and funding to procure construction contracts and start remediation works. To date, £28.25 million has been provided for this work to take place. To be allocated further funding, eligible applicants need to procure the works required and submit a package of funding for approval. We are awaiting the outcome of this procurement activity in the market for 165 buildings to enable the next steps to be taken. The five applicants where their works have been approved amount to an allocation of £11 million.
As at 29 February 2024, there are no buildings being monitored exclusively by the ACM programme and there are 15 buildings being monitored exclusively by the BSF programme that are having non-cladding defects remediated under the developer remediation contract. In addition, there are two buildings which are being monitored by both schemes. We do not have an estimate for the number of buildings in the ACM programme and BSF that are having non-cladding remediation works undertaken outside of the developer remediation contract.
Information on enforcement action taken by local authorities on high-rise residential buildings under the Housing Act 2004 by buildings in: i) the ACM programme, ii) the BSF programme and iii) neither programme, is published in table Enforcement_1 of the monthly data release.
Asked by: Mike Amesbury (Labour - Weaver Vale)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, with reference to his Department's Building Safety Remediation: monthly data release - February 2024, published on 21 March 2024, what proportion of enforcement action taken by local authorities on high-rise buildings under the Housing Act 2004 relates to buildings that are not supported by any remediation funding scheme.
Answered by Lee Rowley - Minister of State (Minister for Housing)
As at 29 February 2024, there have been 3,628 buildings that have applied to the Building Safety Fund. Of these, 3,488 buildings applied in the first tranche of opening and 140 applied in the second tranche of opening. Of the total that applied: 1,096 are ineligible – 1,089 are from the first tranche of opening and seven are from the second tranche. Further information about the status of buildings can be found at the following link.
The Cladding Safety Scheme via Homes England provides details on allocated spend for each building. Since its launch in July, it has interacted with over 1,000 buildings. 450 are currently engaging with the application process, carrying out technical reports to enable eligibility assessment. Within its first nine months, 170 buildings have been deemed eligible via technical assessment and can now progress with the relevant support and funding to procure construction contracts and start remediation works. To date, £28.25 million has been provided for this work to take place. To be allocated further funding, eligible applicants need to procure the works required and submit a package of funding for approval. We are awaiting the outcome of this procurement activity in the market for 165 buildings to enable the next steps to be taken. The five applicants where their works have been approved amount to an allocation of £11 million.
As at 29 February 2024, there are no buildings being monitored exclusively by the ACM programme and there are 15 buildings being monitored exclusively by the BSF programme that are having non-cladding defects remediated under the developer remediation contract. In addition, there are two buildings which are being monitored by both schemes. We do not have an estimate for the number of buildings in the ACM programme and BSF that are having non-cladding remediation works undertaken outside of the developer remediation contract.
Information on enforcement action taken by local authorities on high-rise residential buildings under the Housing Act 2004 by buildings in: i) the ACM programme, ii) the BSF programme and iii) neither programme, is published in table Enforcement_1 of the monthly data release.
Asked by: Mike Amesbury (Labour - Weaver Vale)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, what information his Department holds on the number of buildings under the (a) aluminium composite material cladding programme and (b) building safety fund that also require remediation of non-cladding defects (i) under the developer self-remediation contract and (ii) unfunded by any scheme.
Answered by Lee Rowley - Minister of State (Minister for Housing)
As at 29 February 2024, there have been 3,628 buildings that have applied to the Building Safety Fund. Of these, 3,488 buildings applied in the first tranche of opening and 140 applied in the second tranche of opening. Of the total that applied: 1,096 are ineligible – 1,089 are from the first tranche of opening and seven are from the second tranche. Further information about the status of buildings can be found at the following link.
The Cladding Safety Scheme via Homes England provides details on allocated spend for each building. Since its launch in July, it has interacted with over 1,000 buildings. 450 are currently engaging with the application process, carrying out technical reports to enable eligibility assessment. Within its first nine months, 170 buildings have been deemed eligible via technical assessment and can now progress with the relevant support and funding to procure construction contracts and start remediation works. To date, £28.25 million has been provided for this work to take place. To be allocated further funding, eligible applicants need to procure the works required and submit a package of funding for approval. We are awaiting the outcome of this procurement activity in the market for 165 buildings to enable the next steps to be taken. The five applicants where their works have been approved amount to an allocation of £11 million.
As at 29 February 2024, there are no buildings being monitored exclusively by the ACM programme and there are 15 buildings being monitored exclusively by the BSF programme that are having non-cladding defects remediated under the developer remediation contract. In addition, there are two buildings which are being monitored by both schemes. We do not have an estimate for the number of buildings in the ACM programme and BSF that are having non-cladding remediation works undertaken outside of the developer remediation contract.
Information on enforcement action taken by local authorities on high-rise residential buildings under the Housing Act 2004 by buildings in: i) the ACM programme, ii) the BSF programme and iii) neither programme, is published in table Enforcement_1 of the monthly data release.
Asked by: Mike Amesbury (Labour - Weaver Vale)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, whether his Department plans to publish the total funding allocated to date under the Cladding Safety Scheme in their monthly Building Safety Remediation reporting.
Answered by Lee Rowley - Minister of State (Minister for Housing)
As at 29 February 2024, there have been 3,628 buildings that have applied to the Building Safety Fund. Of these, 3,488 buildings applied in the first tranche of opening and 140 applied in the second tranche of opening. Of the total that applied: 1,096 are ineligible – 1,089 are from the first tranche of opening and seven are from the second tranche. Further information about the status of buildings can be found at the following link.
The Cladding Safety Scheme via Homes England provides details on allocated spend for each building. Since its launch in July, it has interacted with over 1,000 buildings. 450 are currently engaging with the application process, carrying out technical reports to enable eligibility assessment. Within its first nine months, 170 buildings have been deemed eligible via technical assessment and can now progress with the relevant support and funding to procure construction contracts and start remediation works. To date, £28.25 million has been provided for this work to take place. To be allocated further funding, eligible applicants need to procure the works required and submit a package of funding for approval. We are awaiting the outcome of this procurement activity in the market for 165 buildings to enable the next steps to be taken. The five applicants where their works have been approved amount to an allocation of £11 million.
As at 29 February 2024, there are no buildings being monitored exclusively by the ACM programme and there are 15 buildings being monitored exclusively by the BSF programme that are having non-cladding defects remediated under the developer remediation contract. In addition, there are two buildings which are being monitored by both schemes. We do not have an estimate for the number of buildings in the ACM programme and BSF that are having non-cladding remediation works undertaken outside of the developer remediation contract.
Information on enforcement action taken by local authorities on high-rise residential buildings under the Housing Act 2004 by buildings in: i) the ACM programme, ii) the BSF programme and iii) neither programme, is published in table Enforcement_1 of the monthly data release.
Asked by: Lord Weir of Ballyholme (Democratic Unionist Party - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask His Majesty's Government why Northern Ireland has been excluded from the Community Engagement Principles for countering extremism.
Answered by Baroness Scott of Bybrook - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities)
Engagement undertaken in Northern Ireland is exempt from the engagement principles to reflect the unique political and historical circumstances in that country. The engagement principles do not apply to the engagement undertaken by the devolved administrations themselves.
The UK Government is in regular contact with the administrations in Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales.
Asked by: Mike Amesbury (Labour - Weaver Vale)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, what information his Department holds on the total funding allocated to date under the Cladding Safety Scheme.
Answered by Lee Rowley - Minister of State (Minister for Housing)
As at 29 February 2024, there have been 3,628 buildings that have applied to the Building Safety Fund. Of these, 3,488 buildings applied in the first tranche of opening and 140 applied in the second tranche of opening. Of the total that applied: 1,096 are ineligible – 1,089 are from the first tranche of opening and seven are from the second tranche. Further information about the status of buildings can be found at the following link.
The Cladding Safety Scheme via Homes England provides details on allocated spend for each building. Since its launch in July, it has interacted with over 1,000 buildings. 450 are currently engaging with the application process, carrying out technical reports to enable eligibility assessment. Within its first nine months, 170 buildings have been deemed eligible via technical assessment and can now progress with the relevant support and funding to procure construction contracts and start remediation works. To date, £28.25 million has been provided for this work to take place. To be allocated further funding, eligible applicants need to procure the works required and submit a package of funding for approval. We are awaiting the outcome of this procurement activity in the market for 165 buildings to enable the next steps to be taken. The five applicants where their works have been approved amount to an allocation of £11 million.
As at 29 February 2024, there are no buildings being monitored exclusively by the ACM programme and there are 15 buildings being monitored exclusively by the BSF programme that are having non-cladding defects remediated under the developer remediation contract. In addition, there are two buildings which are being monitored by both schemes. We do not have an estimate for the number of buildings in the ACM programme and BSF that are having non-cladding remediation works undertaken outside of the developer remediation contract.
Information on enforcement action taken by local authorities on high-rise residential buildings under the Housing Act 2004 by buildings in: i) the ACM programme, ii) the BSF programme and iii) neither programme, is published in table Enforcement_1 of the monthly data release.
Asked by: Lord Bishop of Southwark (Bishops - Bishops)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of figures released by the Office for National Statistics on 20 March showing an average increase in monthly rent paid by tenants in the UK of 9 per cent in the year ending in February, including an increase to 10.6 per cent in London to an average monthly rent of £2,035.
Answered by Baroness Swinburne - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities)
The Government recognises the cost of living pressures that tenants are facing, and that paying rent is likely to be a tenant’s biggest monthly expense.
Over the last two years, the Government has demonstrated its commitment to supporting the most vulnerable with one of the largest support packages in Europe. Taken together, total support between 2022 and 2025 to help households with the cost-of-living is worth £108 billion – an average of £3,800 per UK household.
Individuals who need help to make their rent payments may be eligible for a range of support through the welfare system. From April 2024, the Government will be spending £1.2 billion restoring Local Housing Allowance rates to the 30th percentile of local market rents. This significant investment means 1.6 million low-income households will gain, on average, nearly £800 per year in additional help towards their rental costs in 2024/25. For those who face a shortfall in meeting their housing costs and need more support, Discretionary Housing Payments and Household Support Fund grants are also available from local authorities.
Asked by: Caroline Lucas (Green Party - Brighton, Pavilion)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, pursuant to the Answer of 13 March 2024 to Question 17100 on Affordable Housing, how many thousands of affordable homes he expects the Affordable Homes Programme to deliver; and what large number of such homes will be for social rent..
Answered by Jacob Young - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities)
I refer the Hon Member to the answer I gave to Question UIN 17100 on 13 March 2024. Further data will be published in due course.
Asked by: Lord Taylor of Warwick (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of programmes funded under (1) the Levelling Up Fund, (2) the Towns Fund, and (3) the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, in addressing regional socio-economic divides across the UK.
Answered by Baroness Swinburne - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities)
The UK Government is committed to levelling up across the whole of the United Kingdom. As part of a wide range of policies and interventions, we are investing over £15 billion in a suite of complementary Levelling Up projects across the UK to help grow the economy, create jobs, redevelop local amenities, improve transport, provide skills training, and support local businesses.
The department plans to complete process, impact, and value for money evaluations on these funds. These evaluations will help improve effectiveness and efficiency of local growth funding.
271 bids have been awarded funding from our multi-billion-pound Levelling Up Fund, investing in infrastructure that improves everyday life for local residents across the UK. The published (attached) Levelling Up Fund Impact Evaluation Scoping Report sets out how the impact of the Fund will be estimated at the programme and project levels and at different geographies.
The UK Shared Prosperity Fund, worth £2.5 billion, is focused on overcoming deep-seated geographical inequalities, with investment in communities building pride in place, supporting high quality skills training, employment and productivity growth, and increasing life chances. Details of the UKSPF Evaluation Strategy (attached) are set out here: UK Shared Prosperity Fund: evaluation - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk).
The department has also committed £2.35 billion worth of Town Deals and £830 million of Future High Streets Funding across 170 high streets, town centres and local communities in England via the Towns Fund. Projects are now in delivery, and the funding has already provided a much-needed boost for town centres and local high streets. Details of the Towns Fund Monitoring and Evaluation Strategy (attached) are set out here: Towns Fund monitoring and evaluation strategy.
Asked by: Lord Patten (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment, if any, have they made of the cultural and economic welfare of the permanent residents of the Scilly Isles.
Answered by Baroness Swinburne - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities)
The Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) is committed to levelling up all parts of our country. We have also recognised the unique circumstances and needs of island communities and their residents, including by establishing the Islands Forum. The Forum is a mechanism for discussing the challenges and opportunities faced by island communities, and for considering how by working together local government and the UK Government (and where relevant the devolved administrations) can support the people of islands across the UK.
The Isles of Scilly has been awarded up to £6 million to fund a museum and cultural centre on St Mary’s. In addition, the final Local Government Finance Settlement for 2024-25 makes available up to £6.8 million to the Council of the Isles of Scilly, an increase in Core Spending Power of up to £0.5 million or 8% in cash terms on 2023-24. This includes an additional £150,000 in funding in recognition of the unique circumstances facing our island authorities, and their physical separation from the mainland.