Asked by: Lord Stunell (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask Her Majesty's Government when they plan to bring forward proposals to implement the recommendations in the Independent Review of Building Regulations and Fire Safety: interim report, published on 18 December 2017.
Answered by Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth
The Government has set out how it will take forward the recommendations of the Independent Review of Building Regulations and Fire Safety in the implementation plan published on 18 December (CM 9739), see below the link (attached).
https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/766002/BSP_-_implementation_programme.pdf
Asked by: Lord Stunell (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what estimate they have made of the proportion of publicly-owned buildings to which the public have access which have on display (1) an in-date Fire Certificate, and (2) an Energy Performance Certificate; and what steps they plan to take to improve compliance with the requirement to display such certificates.
Answered by Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth
We have no estimate of the proportion of publicly-owned buildings to which the public has access which display an Energy Performance Certificate.
Upper Tier Authorities (Local Weights and Measures Authorities (LWMAs)), through Trading Standards Offices, are responsible for enforcing the regulatory requirements. With this in mind, the updated guidance for LWMAs has been published (attached) here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/local-weights-and-measures-guidance-for-energy-certificates-and-air-conditioning-inspections-for-buildings.
This guidance has been updated periodically since 2008, most recently in March 2016. It is for enforcement authorities to plan and undertake their work to ensure compliance with the regulations.
Asked by: Lord Stunell (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they have plans to put additional support in place to assist the continued development of Neighbourhood Plans in unparished areas and designated high growth or complex areas to compensate for the grant funding withdrawn for the current year.
Answered by Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth
In March 2018 Government announced a new four year, £23 million programme to help communities develop neighbourhood plans. Neighbourhood planning groups can access a range of free help, including financial support and planning expertise from trained professionals to guide them through the neighbourhood planning process.
The maximum grant available to communities has been increased since the previous programme by £2,000 to £17,000, with eligibility criteria for further professional support now more focussed on the complexity of the proposed plan being developed, rather than the composition of the group. Under the 2018-2022 support programme, specialist support is available to unparished groups to help local people build up knowledge and achieve designation as a Neighbourhood Forum. All groups can also be considered for specific ‘facilitation’ support to overcome some of the unique challenges they face as they progress their plan.
Over 2,400 communities across England have started the process of neighbourhood planning, with over 600 plans approved in local referendums. No impact assessment was prepared for the 2018-2022 neighbourhood planning support programme, however achieving best value for money was a key consideration in designing the programme and the eligibility criteria.
Asked by: Lord Stunell (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will publish any impact assessment made when the grant criteria for supporting Neighbourhood Forums preparing Neighbourhood Plans in unparished areas were tightened for the current financial year.
Answered by Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth
In March 2018 Government announced a new four year, £23 million programme to help communities develop neighbourhood plans. Neighbourhood planning groups can access a range of free help, including financial support and planning expertise from trained professionals to guide them through the neighbourhood planning process.
The maximum grant available to communities has been increased since the previous programme by £2,000 to £17,000, with eligibility criteria for further professional support now more focussed on the complexity of the proposed plan being developed, rather than the composition of the group. Under the 2018-2022 support programme, specialist support is available to unparished groups to help local people build up knowledge and achieve designation as a Neighbourhood Forum. All groups can also be considered for specific ‘facilitation’ support to overcome some of the unique challenges they face as they progress their plan.
Over 2,400 communities across England have started the process of neighbourhood planning, with over 600 plans approved in local referendums. No impact assessment was prepared for the 2018-2022 neighbourhood planning support programme, however achieving best value for money was a key consideration in designing the programme and the eligibility criteria.
Asked by: Lord Stunell (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what account they plan to take of the Court of Justice of the European Union's judgment on 12 April (C-323/17) relating to the conservation of natural habitats in the drafting of the revised National Planning Policy Framework.
Answered by Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth
The Government is currently examining the implications of this judgment, which, amongst other things, concerns both the habitats regulations and the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF).
Asked by: Lord Stunell (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they plan to maintain in law the provisions of the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive after the UK has left the EU.
Answered by Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth
The outcome of negotiations with the European Union (EU) will determine what detailed arrangements apply in relation to EU legislation, including the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive, in future once the UK has left the EU.
Asked by: Lord Stunell (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Williams of Trafford on 24 March 2016 (HL7094), when the next biennial review will be published; and why there has been a 12-month delay in publication for the review which was scheduled to have been published in early 2017.
Answered by Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth
The Government is working to publish shortly the next biennial report under the Sustainable and Secure Buildings Act 2004.
Asked by: Lord Stunell (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the costs and benefits of implementing paragraphs 4A and 4B of Schedule 1 of the Building Act 1984, as amended by the Sustainable and Secure Buildings Act 2004, in the light of emerging findings relating to the Grenfell Tower fire.
Answered by Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth
Paragraph 4A of Schedule 1 to the Building Act 1984 has been used a number of times to authorise the operation of competent person schemes through amendments to the Building Regulations. Each time it has been used the Department has published an impact assessment setting out the costs and benefits of the additional authorisations.
Asked by: Lord Stunell (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
Her Majesty's Government what budgetary provision has been made for grants to Neighbourhood Forums in the year 2018–19, and what distribution mechanism will be used.
Answered by Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth
The Government’s Housing White Paper, Fixing our Broken Housing Market, commits to further funding for neighbourhood planning groups after 2018 so they can access the additional support they might need. Details of the funding arrangements will be announced in due course.
Asked by: Lord Stunell (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government when they propose to publish the next biennial review of progress in sustainable building regulations required by the Sustainable and Secure Buildings Act 2004.
Answered by Baroness Williams of Trafford - Captain of the Honourable Corps of Gentlemen-at-Arms (HM Household) (Chief Whip, House of Lords)
The Government will publish the next biennial review of progress in sustainable Building Regulations in early 2017, as required by the Sustainable and Secure Buildings Act 2004.