Asked by: Chris Ward (Labour - Brighton Kemptown and Peacehaven)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, how many and what percentage of applicants were accepted for the current funding round for the Ending Homeless in Communities Fund.
Answered by Florence Eshalomi - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
The Government is providing £47 million through the Ending Homelessness in Communities Fund, the largest multi-year commitment to the voluntary, community and faith sector on homelessness. The fund is helping organisations strengthen community-based support, transform day services, help people live independently and prevent homelessness and rough sleeping.
The fund operated through a competitive grant application process which closed on 31 March 2026. A total of 712 applications were received and, following assessment and moderation, 11.52% of applicants (82 organisations in total) were awarded funding through the programme.
The level of funding made available through the Fund reflects the Government's commitment to supporting voluntary, community and faith sector organisations to play a central role in preventing and addressing homelessness and rough sleeping.
Asked by: Chris Ward (Labour - Brighton Kemptown and Peacehaven)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of increasing funding for the Ending Homeless in Communities Fund.
Answered by Florence Eshalomi - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
The Government is providing £47 million through the Ending Homelessness in Communities Fund, the largest multi-year commitment to the voluntary, community and faith sector on homelessness. The fund is helping organisations strengthen community-based support, transform day services, help people live independently and prevent homelessness and rough sleeping.
The fund operated through a competitive grant application process which closed on 31 March 2026. A total of 712 applications were received and, following assessment and moderation, 11.52% of applicants (82 organisations in total) were awarded funding through the programme.
The level of funding made available through the Fund reflects the Government's commitment to supporting voluntary, community and faith sector organisations to play a central role in preventing and addressing homelessness and rough sleeping.
Asked by: Chris Ward (Labour - Brighton Kemptown and Peacehaven)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of redeveloping former gasworks sites on trends in air pollution levels in the surrounding area.
Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
The handling of hazardous materials is strictly regulated to prevent and limit the consequences of major accidents and to ensure that communities and the environment are protected. Hazardous substances consent is required for the presence of hazardous substances at or above specified limits set out in regulations. Planning Practice Guidance on Hazardous Substances provides advice on this matter. The Health and Safety Executive is a statutory consultee on hazardous substance consent applications and provides expert advice to local planning authorities on any risks to inform their decision making.
There are strong existing protections in national planning policy to safeguard people from unacceptable risks from air pollution and site decontamination. These will be material considerations for a local council when determining a planning application, as will the planning concerns of the local community.
Asked by: Chris Ward (Labour - Brighton Kemptown and Peacehaven)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of imposing national restrictions on the development of ex-gasworks sites.
Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
The handling of hazardous materials is strictly regulated to prevent and limit the consequences of major accidents and to ensure that communities and the environment are protected. Hazardous substances consent is required for the presence of hazardous substances at or above specified limits set out in regulations. Planning Practice Guidance on Hazardous Substances provides advice on this matter. The Health and Safety Executive is a statutory consultee on hazardous substance consent applications and provides expert advice to local planning authorities on any risks to inform their decision making.
There are strong existing protections in national planning policy to safeguard people from unacceptable risks from air pollution and site decontamination. These will be material considerations for a local council when determining a planning application, as will the planning concerns of the local community.
Asked by: Chris Ward (Labour - Brighton Kemptown and Peacehaven)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether her Department issues guidance on handling hazardous materials when developing former gasworks sites.
Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
The handling of hazardous materials is strictly regulated to prevent and limit the consequences of major accidents and to ensure that communities and the environment are protected. Hazardous substances consent is required for the presence of hazardous substances at or above specified limits set out in regulations. Planning Practice Guidance on Hazardous Substances provides advice on this matter. The Health and Safety Executive is a statutory consultee on hazardous substance consent applications and provides expert advice to local planning authorities on any risks to inform their decision making.
There are strong existing protections in national planning policy to safeguard people from unacceptable risks from air pollution and site decontamination. These will be material considerations for a local council when determining a planning application, as will the planning concerns of the local community.