Asked by: Bill Esterson (Labour - Sefton Central)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, which constituencies have the highest proportion of homes with an Energy Performance Certificate below Level C.
Answered by Lee Rowley - Minister of State (Minister for Housing)
I refer the Hon. Member to the answer I gave to Question UIN 99812 on 5 December 2022. Data can be further refined on the Open Data Communities website here.
Asked by: Bill Esterson (Labour - Sefton Central)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, how many homes have Energy Performance Certificate below Level C, as of 24 November 2022.
Answered by Lee Rowley - Minister of State (Minister for Housing)
I refer the Hon. Member to the answer I gave to Question UIN 99812 on 5 December 2022. Data can be further refined on the Open Data Communities website here.
Asked by: Bill Esterson (Labour - Sefton Central)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, how many homes are below an Energy Performance Certificate Level E in Sefton Central constituency as of 24 November 2022.
Answered by Lee Rowley - Minister of State (Minister for Housing)
The latest data tables on Energy Performance Buildings Certificates are available here.
Asked by: Bill Esterson (Labour - Sefton Central)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, how many homes were estimated to be below an Energy Performance Certificate Level C in Sefton Central constituency as of 29 November 2022.
Answered by Lee Rowley - Minister of State (Minister for Housing)
The latest data tables on Energy Performance Buildings Certificates are available here.
Asked by: Bill Esterson (Labour - Sefton Central)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, how many homes in Sefton Central constituency have a D level or below for their energy efficiency.
Answered by Lee Rowley - Minister of State (Minister for Housing)
The Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities publishes details of all Energy Performance Certificates for England and Wales held on the Energy Performance of Buildings Register. The full data set is freely available on the Open Data Communities website here.
Asked by: Bill Esterson (Labour - Sefton Central)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, whether he has had discussions with local authorities on the matter of mobile network operators applying for pre-application advice for telecommunications masts but failing to pay the fee for that advice and subsequently stating in their consultation material that they applied for pre-application advice but the Council did not respond.
Answered by Stuart Andrew - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
Local planning authorities may charge for providing discretionary services including pre-application advice under section 93 of the Local Government Act 2003. Authorities need to consider whether charging is appropriate in all cases, given the potential for pre-application engagement to save time and improve outcomes later in the process. Where possible, local planning authorities are strongly encouraged to provide at least a basic level of service without charge. Local planning authorities are best placed to deal with issues regarding the service they provide and any approach they may take where fees for discretionary services are not paid.
The specific issue of unpaid fees has not been raised through correspondence or responses to our technical consultation on amending permitted development rights for electronic communications infrastructure. However pre-application consultation has been considered in our joint work with local authorities, mobile network operators and other stakeholders to develop a new Code of Practice for Wireless Network Development in England. This Code, published in March 2022, encourages mobile network operators to engage with local planning authorities when deploying mobile infrastructure, including at the pre-application stage of the planning process.
Asked by: Bill Esterson (Labour - Sefton Central)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, what representations he has received on ensuring that telecoms operators and providers carry out adequate consultation with elected members and communities prior to the installation of telecommunications masts.
Answered by Stuart Andrew - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
The Government consulted last year on changes to nationally set permitted development rights. We will be responding to the consultation shortly, including on matters where representations were received on consultation with elected members and local communities, in relation to telecommunications infrastructure.
Mobile Network Operators have also committed to following the Code of Best Practice on Mobile Network Development in England, which sets out best practice on community engagement, when deploying equipment. The Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport has developed a new Code of Practice which will provide updated guidance on consultation with local communities.
Asked by: Bill Esterson (Labour - Sefton Central)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what recent representations he has received from stakeholders on the upkeep and return to occupancy of vacant residential properties.
Answered by Christopher Pincher
The Department received correspondence linked to the National Day of Action on Empty Homes in April.
Local authorities have powers and strong incentives to tackle empty homes. Through the New Homes Bonus, they receive the same amount for bringing an empty home back into use as building a new one. Billing authorities in England also have the power to charge up to 100% extra council tax - on top of the standard bill - on properties that have been unoccupied and unfurnished for at least two years, up to 200% extra on properties that have been empty for at least five years, and up to 300% extra on properties that have been empty for at least 10 years.
In certain circumstances, local authorities can exercise powers to take over the management of long-term empty homes in order to bring them back into use in the private rented sector. Local authorities can apply for an Empty Dwelling Management Order (EDMO) when a property has been empty for more than two years, subject to the production of evidence that the property has been causing a nuisance to the community and evidence of community support for their proposal.
Grant funding is also available through the Affordable Homes Programme to bring empty homes back into use. Empty properties must not be existing social housing owned by the Registered Provider or by another Registered Provider.
It is for local housing authorities to decide when to use their powers to deal with empty properties, and they have the flexibility to focus on locally determined priorities and allocate their resources accordingly.
The number of long-term empty homes remains substantially lower than when records began in 2004. At May 2010, over 300,000 homes in England had been standing empty for longer than 6 months. As of October 2020, the number of long-term empty properties had fallen to 268,385.
Asked by: Bill Esterson (Labour - Sefton Central)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the potential effect on tenants of the amendment from six months to four months to the minimum Section 21 notice period in England; and what representations he has received from housing charities on that amendment to that notice period.
Answered by Eddie Hughes
As we gradually ease restrictions introduced during the coronavirus pandemic, the time is now right to start to lift the emergency measures that were put in place to support renters and landlords. These measures could only ever be temporary. However, we are tapering down protections gradually to minimise the impact on tenants and public services.
The Government has to balance supporting tenants with landlords' ability to exercise their right to justice where needed. Tenants will continue to benefit from longer notice periods, giving them more time to make alternative arrangements. As of 1 June, until at least 30 September, notice periods will be at least 4 months except in the most egregious cases. Bailiffs have been asked not to carry out an eviction if anyone living in the property has Covid-19 symptoms or is self-isolating.
Other protections also remain in place, including new court rules and arrangements that were introduced in September to respond to the pandemic. Courts will continue to carefully prioritise the most serious cases first, such as anti-social behaviour, and the Government is funding a new mediation pilot as part of the court process.
Extensive financial support remains in place to help people meet their outgoings, including the furlough scheme and the Universal Credit uplift, which have both been extended until the end of September.
We regularly meet with key stakeholders across the sector, including housing charities, to ensure they are informed of the latest information and have the opportunity to provide representations.
Asked by: Bill Esterson (Labour - Sefton Central)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, for what reason deprivation is not part of the weighting for bids for the Levelling Up Fund.
Answered by Luke Hall - Minister of State (Education)
The £4.8 billion Levelling Up Fund will prioritise bids from places in England, Scotland and Wales with the most significant need. This is measured by an index taking into account the following place characteristics: need for economic recovery and growth; need for improved transport connectivity; and need for regeneration. Using this index, places have been placed into category 1, 2, or 3, with category 1 representing places with the highest levels of identified need. These metrics are focussed on identifying places most in need of the type of investment offered through the Levelling Up Fund – including towns centre and high street regeneration, small scale transport projects, and investment in local culture and heritage assets. A methodology note has been published and can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/levelling-up-fund-additional-documents/levelling-up-fund-prioritisation-of-places-methodology-note