Asked by: Lord Lansley (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to extend the cut-off date for the completion of Help to Buy properties by six months in view of the delay to construction activity.
Answered by Lord Greenhalgh
The Government recognises the disruption Covid-19 has caused to housebuilding, which is why we have taken decisive steps to re-open the housing market and ensure housebuilding can now safely recommence, with immediate effect. The Government published a “Plan to Rebuild” on Monday 11 May, setting out the UK Government’s Covid-19 recovery strategy. This makes clear that construction work can be undertaken across England providing sites are able to operate safely in line with Covid-19 guidelines. A number of developers have already announced plans to restart work on sites.
To support customers, Help to Buy Equity Loan Agents are already offering more time for purchasers to complete their transactions. Homes England released this guidance on 1 May.
Asked by: Lord Lansley (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to allow local authorities to extend the validity of all planning permissions for an additional six months or more as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Answered by Lord Greenhalgh
The Government is aware from both local planning authorities and the development industry that, with delays caused by COVID-19, there is a risk of unimplemented planning permissions lapsing, undermining the delivery of projects. We recognise these concerns and we are considering whether permissions should be extended.
Asked by: Lord Lansley (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to their Planning for the future policy paper, published on 12 March, whether the proposed development corporations in the Oxford–Cambridge Arc will be (1) new town, (2) urban, (3) locally-led new town, or (4) mayoral, development corporations.
Answered by Baroness Bloomfield of Hinton Waldrist
The Government will examine the most suitable delivery vehicles and associated legislation for bringing forward development at scale and meeting our objectives for sustainability and high-quality design. This will include looking at the case for Government using its own powers to establish new town or urban development corporations. Any development corporation, whether proposed by Government or local bodies, should always entail appropriate community involvement.
Asked by: Lord Lansley (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to their Planning for the future policy paper, published on 12 March, under what legislation they are planning to bring forward proposals for the four development corporations in the Oxford–Cambridge Arc.
Answered by Baroness Bloomfield of Hinton Waldrist
The Government will examine the most suitable delivery vehicles and associated legislation for bringing forward development at scale and meeting our objectives for sustainability and high-quality design. This will include looking at the case for Government using its own powers to establish new town or urban development corporations. Any development corporation, whether proposed by Government or local bodies, should always entail appropriate community involvement.