Asked by: Lord Teverson (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they intend that the "vision led approach" required by paragraph 112 of the draft National Planning Policy Framework should be based on any or all of (1) local transport plans, (2) local cycling and walking infrastructure plans, (3) rights of way improvement plans, and (4) bus service improvement plans.
Answered by Baroness Taylor of Stevenage - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
As part of the consultation on proposed reforms to the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF), we are seeking views on new NPPF paragraph 112 a), which aims to set an expectation that local authorities adopt a vision-led approach to promoting sustainable transport when identifying sites in local plans and considering planning decisions.
The NPPF consultation will close on 24 September, and we will use the responses we receive to inform future steps. Details of the consultation and how to respond can be found at the following link.
Asked by: Lord Teverson (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask His Majesty's Government for what reason the second of the green belt purposes in paragraph 140 of the draft National Planning Policy Framework, "to prevent neighbouring towns merging into one another", is not replicated in paragraph 155 regarding major development permitted through development management or on land which has been released from the green belt.
Answered by Baroness Taylor of Stevenage - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
This Government recognises the important role the Green Belt plays in preventing urban sprawl and remains committed to its continued protection. The manifesto was clear that without changing its purpose or general extent, the government will take a more strategic approach to Green Belt release to build more homes in the right places.
The Government’s proposed reforms relating to the Green Belt, and approach to implementation, are set out in the consultation on our approach to revising the National Planning Policy Framework and other changes to the planning system. This consultation began on Tuesday 30 July and closes on Tuesday 24 September.
Asked by: Lord Teverson (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask His Majesty's Government when they will commence the operation of marine net gain.
Answered by Baroness Hayman of Ullock - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
This Government is committed to nature recovery. Work is underway to develop options for the role marine net gain may play including consideration of timescales for operation of the policy.
Asked by: Lord Teverson (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they plan to ensure that UK citizens have the right to marry or form a civil partnership, other than a marriage of convenience, with whom they wish, and have the freedom to reside with their spouse or partner in the UK whatever their wealth or income.
Answered by Lord Hanson of Flint - Minister of State (Home Office)
British citizens and those settled in the UK are free to enter into a genuine relationship with whomever they choose. Foreign partners are able to come to the UK to be married or enter into a civil partnership through a visit visa, where they intend to return home, or a fiancé visa where they intend to go on to apply for permission to stay as a spouse or partner.
Unmarried partners, where the couple have been in a relationship similar to marriage or civil partnership for at least 2 years are able to apply for a permission to enter or stay in the UK as partner.
For those intending to establish their family life in the UK through the spouse, partner or fiancé routes, it is appropriate they should do so on a basis which is fair to the UK taxpayer and promotes integration with the wider community.
The government has announced the intention to commission the Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) to conduct a review of the financial requirements of the family immigration rules and will take into account their recommendations.
Asked by: Lord Teverson (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask His Majesty's Government what additional guidance to local planning authorities would be appropriate in order to ensure that exemptions to biodiversity net gain can be properly and confidently assessed.
Answered by Baroness Hayman of Ullock - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
We will build the housing and infrastructure that Britain desperately needs while protecting the environment.
That is why we are working closely with the sector to make biodiversity net gain work effectively and proportionally, with exemptions in place for any development that would have no or minimal impact on nature.
The list of specified exemptions is narrow and focused and keeps the policy ambitious, while being proportionate and deliverable for developers and local planning authorities.
Officials are monitoring the implementation of biodiversity net gain closely, and regularly meet with those engaging with it across local planning authorities, developers, and the land management sector.
Biodiversity net gain fundamentally changes how developers choose land to build on and how they design sites, and we are pleased to see so many stakeholders embracing this opportunity to deliver much needed development and deliver for the environment.
Asked by: Lord Teverson (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask His Majesty's Government how they are monitoring the success and roll-out of biodiversity net gain policy; and whether they have plans to review the current system of exemptions.
Answered by Baroness Hayman of Ullock - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
We will build the housing and infrastructure that Britain desperately needs while protecting the environment.
That is why we are working closely with the sector to make biodiversity net gain work effectively and proportionally, with exemptions in place for any development that would have no or minimal impact on nature.
The list of specified exemptions is narrow and focused and keeps the policy ambitious, while being proportionate and deliverable for developers and local planning authorities.
Officials are monitoring the implementation of biodiversity net gain closely, and regularly meet with those engaging with it across local planning authorities, developers, and the land management sector.
Biodiversity net gain fundamentally changes how developers choose land to build on and how they design sites, and we are pleased to see so many stakeholders embracing this opportunity to deliver much needed development and deliver for the environment.
Asked by: Lord Teverson (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask His Majesty's Government what initial assessment they have made of the implementation of biodiversity net gain to date.
Answered by Baroness Hayman of Ullock - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
We will build the housing and infrastructure that Britain desperately needs while protecting the environment.
That is why we are working closely with the sector to make biodiversity net gain work effectively and proportionally, with exemptions in place for any development that would have no or minimal impact on nature.
The list of specified exemptions is narrow and focused and keeps the policy ambitious, while being proportionate and deliverable for developers and local planning authorities.
Officials are monitoring the implementation of biodiversity net gain closely, and regularly meet with those engaging with it across local planning authorities, developers, and the land management sector.
Biodiversity net gain fundamentally changes how developers choose land to build on and how they design sites, and we are pleased to see so many stakeholders embracing this opportunity to deliver much needed development and deliver for the environment.
Asked by: Lord Teverson (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask His Majesty's Government which public body, or bodies, will be given the responsibility for the delivery of the Local Nature Recovery Strategies once they have been agreed.
Answered by Lord Benyon
Local Natural Recovery Strategies (LNRSs) will identify and map the best locations to create, enhance and restore nature and provide wider environmental benefits across the whole country. The Government has committed to funding LNRS preparation and recognises the need for them to have weight and meaning across a range of government policies to support and incentivise their delivery.
No one body can therefore be solely responsible for the delivery of LNRSs. Recovering nature will require public, private and voluntary sectors to work closely together to deliver the priorities identified in the strategies. All public bodies must have regard to LNRSs as part of their strengthened statutory duty to conserve and enhance biodiversity (attached).
The Government will publish guidance shortly on how planning authorities will have to have regard to and in time take account of LNRSs in their plans. LNRSs will help to target biodiversity net gain actions and as the strategies become available, the Government will continue to explore join-up between elements of Environmental Land Management schemes and LNRS, as committed to in the January 2024 Agricultural Transition Plan (attached).
We are in discussions with LNRS responsible authorities about their role in helping to coordinate activities in their areas.
Asked by: Lord Teverson (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they intend to review how the Marine Management Organisation engages and consults with local communities affected by near shore marine developments requiring the Marine Management Organisation’s consent.
Answered by Lord Benyon
The MMO regularly reviews its internal processes to ensure that they remain fit for purpose to allow local communities the chance to feedback on local developments that may affect them.
The MMO Chair is accountable to the Secretary of State and the MMO board holds the MMO’s Chief Executive to account on delivering, including how MMO engages and consults with local communities affected by near shore marine developments.
Asked by: Lord Teverson (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have for the future work and responsibilities of Local Nature Partnerships.
Answered by Lord Benyon
I would like to thank all of those involved in Local Nature Partnerships (LNPs) for their ongoing work to date; it is hugely valuable. I am pleased to note that LNPs are, in most areas, playing a key role in the development of Local Nature Recovery Strategies (LNRSs). It is also pleasing to see that some LNPs have formed, or reformed, for the purpose of contributing to the LNRS for their area (for example in Wiltshire).
This puts LNPs in a strong position to take an active role in delivery of the LNRSs when they are published. The Government is supportive of this and views partnership working as essential to their delivery, building on the momentum generated by responsible authorities in preparing LNRSs. The exact role of the LNP will vary from area to area, as LNPs are configured according to local circumstances.
LNPs have a track record of addressing other local concerns beyond the scope of the LNRS and I would encourage them to continue to do so.