Asked by: Christopher Chope (Conservative - Christchurch)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what the minimum housing density is which local planning authorities can impose as a condition of granting planning permission for housing on (a) greenfield sites and (b) brownfield sites in England; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Christopher Pincher
This Government does not impose a minimum density requirement nationally, but our National Planning Policy Framework provides strong encouragement to local authorities to make the most of suitable brownfield sites, especially for new homes. It is for each local authority to consider what housing density would be appropriate for any part of its area, and to incorporate relevant policies in its local plan as necessary.
This should take into account local constraints, which the local authority is best placed to assess. A local authority may also specify what density is appropriate in a housing scheme by imposing planning conditions on the planning permission. We have empowered local communities to create local design guidance and design codes, which can include limits on building height and density where appropriate to protect the character of a place.
Asked by: Christopher Chope (Conservative - Christchurch)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what estimate he has made of the number of households in England which paid more than 10 per cent of net household income in council tax in 2020-21.
Answered by Luke Hall - Minister of State (Education)
The Government does not hold data on the income of households paying particular levels of council tax and has not made any such estimate. The level of council tax is determined by local authorities which are also responsible for designing and administering council tax reduction schemes to provide support for households with low incomes.
Asked by: Christopher Chope (Conservative - Christchurch)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, when the Minister responsible for park homes policy plans to respond to the invitation from the Chairman of the APPG for Park Homes to participate in a meeting of the APPG.
Answered by Eddie Hughes
The Minister for Rough Sleeping and Housing responded to the invitation from the Chairman of the APPG for Park Homes on 20 April.
Asked by: Christopher Chope (Conservative - Christchurch)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer 12 March 2021 to Question 165438, if he will facilitate the introduction of primary legislation on park homes through a successful hon. Member in the ballot for Private Members' Bills in the 2021-22 Parliamentary Session.
Answered by Christopher Pincher
In our response to the review of park homes legislation, we announced that we would introduce primary legislation to improve protections for park home residents.
We will consider all available options and introduce the required legislation when the parliamentary timetable allows.
Asked by: Christopher Chope (Conservative - Christchurch)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, when the procurement process for research into the potential effect of any changes to the 10 per cent maximum commission on sales of park homes will be completed; and what the length of the contract period is of that research.
Answered by Eddie Hughes
The procurement process for the research to assess the potential effect of a change to the 10 per cent sales commission on park homes is complete. I can confirm that a consortium led by University of Liverpool has been commissioned to carry out the research.
The research is expected to be completed by the end of this year. The research team has started inviting residents and site owners to take part in focus group meetings starting in April.
Asked by: Christopher Chope (Conservative - Christchurch)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, when the draft guidance on fit and proper person licensing for park home operators will be (a) finalised and (b) published.
Answered by Eddie Hughes
The fit and proper person test for park home site operators will come into force in two parts - on 1 July, by which time local authorities must be prepared to receive applications and on 1 October, by which time all park home site operators must have submitted an application to the relevant local authority.
To assist local authorities and site owners, we plan to publish non-statutory guidance on the implementation of the fit and proper person test by the end of May.
Asked by: Christopher Chope (Conservative - Christchurch)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if he will make it his policy to increase the number of caravans and tents permitted at site and locations certified for self-catering holidays during 2021; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Christopher Pincher
Local authorities are responsible for regulating the number of caravan and tent pitches on caravan sites through the planning and caravan site licensing regimes. We want to see them taking a flexible approach to requests for temporary increases in the number of pitches this summer where it is appropriate to do so.
Asked by: Christopher Chope (Conservative - Christchurch)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, when he plans to respond to the letter from the hon. Member for Christchurch of 18 December 2020 on behalf of a constituent concerned about his inability to obtain an EWS1 Certificate for a flat in a three storey block; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Christopher Pincher
My noble Friend, Lord Greenhalgh, responded to the letter on 15 March 2021.
Asked by: Christopher Chope (Conservative - Christchurch)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if the Government will make it a priority in the next Session of Parliament to bring forward legislative proposals to simplify and increase the transparency of company structures used by some owners of park home sites to limit a resident’s security of tenure and avoid liability for enforcement action pursuant to the undertakings given in 2018.
Answered by Eddie Hughes
The Government remains committed to improving protections for park home residents.
We will introduce primary legislation to simplify the complex company structures used by some site owners to limit a resident’s security of tenure and avoid liability for any enforcement action when the parliamentary timetable allows.
Asked by: Christopher Chope (Conservative - Christchurch)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if he will bring forward legislative proposals in the next Session of Parliament to amend and clarify the definition of a pitch fee for park home residents and prevent the use of variable service charges in written agreements pursuant to the undertakings given in 2018.
Answered by Eddie Hughes
The Government remains committed to improving protections for park home residents.
We will introduce primary legislation to amend and clarify the definition of a pitch fee and prevent the use of variable service charges in written agreements, when the parliamentary timetable allows.