Asked by: Clive Betts (Labour - Sheffield South East)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, how many units of accommodation in the (a) private and (b) social housing sector have combustible cladding; on how many such units is work under way to remove such cladding; and how many such units have no such work planned.
Answered by Rushanara Ali - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
The latest data on remediation progress of 11m+ buildings identified with unsafe cladding is available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/building-safety-remediation-monthly-data-release-july-2024.
This shows that as of 31 July 2024, in the private housing sector, 2,127 buildings have been identified as having combustible cladding. Of these, 416 buildings have remediation works underway, and works have not started on 1,119 buildings. In the social housing sector, 2,405 buildings have been identified as having combustible cladding. Of these, 528 buildings have remediation works underway, and works have not started on 1,210 buildings.
Asked by: Clive Betts (Labour - Sheffield South East)
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 requiring local authorities in their local plans to (a) allocate sites for (i) social housing and (ii) housing for elderly persons and (b) ensure the provision of housing with high-level adaptations for people with disabilities.
Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
The National Planning Policy Framework outlines that it is for local authorities to assess the size, types and tenure of housing needed for different groups in the community, including those who require affordable housing, people with disabilities, older people, and to reflect this in their planning policies. In 2019, we published guidance to help local planning authorities implement this policy.
We are consulting on our approach to revising the National Planning Policy Framework and other changes to the planning system. This includes proposed changes designed to support the delivery of affordable homes including social rent, alongside securing a mix of types and tenures including housing for specific groups including older people. The consultation began on Tuesday 30 July and closes on Tuesday 24 September.
Asked by: Clive Betts (Labour - Sheffield South East)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether she has made an assessment of the potential merits of preventing second home owners who become subject to a higher council tax charge from switching their home to a business and avoiding council tax altogether.
Answered by Jim McMahon - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
From April 2025 councils have discretionary powers to charge a council tax premium of up to 100% on second homes. Properties available for commercial short-term letting may be eligible for business rates where they have been available to let for at least 140 days in the past year, are available to let for at least 140 days in the next year and can demonstrate at least 70 days of actual letting activity in the last year. The Government will continue to keep all tax policy under review.
Asked by: Clive Betts (Labour - Sheffield South East)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, what his Department's timescales are for (a) publishing the tender documents for the licenses for the Green Flag awards and (b) awarding those licenses.
Answered by Jacob Young
The Department of Levelling Up, Housing and Communities owned Green Flag Awards Scheme, currently operated under licence by Keep Britain Tidy, sets the national standard for public green spaces and encourages local authorities and other public landowners to ensure parks and green spaces are welcoming, safe, well-maintained and promote biodiversity and community participation.
We will provide further updates about the licensing scheme shortly.
Asked by: Clive Betts (Labour - Sheffield South East)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, with reference to the Autumn Statement 2023, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of a freeze on his Department's expenditure on the (a) provision of council services, (b) level council tax collected and (c) likelihood of section 114 notices being issued.
Answered by Simon Hoare
The Government published the Provisional Local Government Finance Settlement for 2024-25 on 18 December. It makes available up to £64.1 billion to local authorities in England. This is an increase in Core Spending Power of up to £3.9 billion or 6.5% in cash terms on 2023-24.
We are considering responses to a consultation on the Provisional Settlement, ahead of publishing the Final Settlement, which we will do very shortly. Once published, this will be subject to debate and the approval of the House.
Provision of local services, the level of council tax, and the issuing of s114 notices are all, ultimately, local matters for local authorities to decide for themselves. However, we stand ready to speak to any council that has concerns about its ability to manage its finances or faces pressures for which it has not planned.
Asked by: Clive Betts (Labour - Sheffield South East)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, with reference to The Minister for Housing, Planning and Building Safety's oral statement on Long-term Plan for Housing on 19 December 2023, Official report, whether he plans to take steps to ensure the urban uplift within the National Planning Policy Framework meets the housing needs of each urban area.
Answered by Lee Rowley
To support the effective and efficient use of land and densification within our towns and cities the standard method urban uplift increases local housing need in our 20 most populated urban areas by 35%. The uplift is designed to ensure that the standard method is consistent with our aim to deliver 300,000 homes a year. It also helps maximise use of existing infrastructure and our wider objectives of regenerating brownfield sites, renewal and levelling up.
The revised National Planning Policy Framework (December 2023) is clear that where the urban uplift applies it should be met by those cities and urban centres concerned rather than exported to surrounding areas, except where there is voluntary cross-boundary agreement to do so, or where this would conflict with other policies in the Framework.
Asked by: Clive Betts (Labour - Sheffield South East)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, whether he has made an assessment of the potential impact of the provisions on National Development Management Policies of the Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill on the UK's obligations under Article (a) 6 and (b) 7 of the Aarhus Convention.
Answered by Rachel Maclean
The Government remains committed to the Aarhus Convention and its requirements for public participation in decision making relating to the environment. The Levelling-Up and Regeneration Bill will improve opportunities for public involvement in planning by making procedures more accessible and digital, while maintaining opportunities to comment on plans and planning applications. National Development Management Policies will also be subject to appropriate and any necessary consultation before they are introduced.
Asked by: Clive Betts (Labour - Sheffield South East)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, whether he has made an assessment of the potential impact of the provisions of the Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill on the UK's obligations under Article (a) 6 and (b) 7 of the Aarhus Convention.
Answered by Rachel Maclean
The Government remains committed to the Aarhus Convention and its requirements for public participation in decision making relating to the environment. The Levelling-Up and Regeneration Bill will improve opportunities for public involvement in planning by making procedures more accessible and digital, while maintaining opportunities to comment on plans and planning applications. National Development Management Policies will also be subject to appropriate and any necessary consultation before they are introduced.
Asked by: Clive Betts (Labour - Sheffield South East)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, whether his Department plans to increase the maximum amount that can be awarded through the Disabled Facility Grant in the context of the rise of the cost of materials and labour.
Answered by Felicity Buchan
I refer the Hon. Member to the answer I gave to Question UIN 180284 on 24 April 2023.
Asked by: Clive Betts (Labour - Sheffield South East)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, whether he plans to bring forward legislative proposals to help protect grassroots music venues through the planning system.
Answered by Rachel Maclean
The Government is supportive of ensuring that existing facilities, including music venues, do not have unreasonable restrictions put on them because of changes in their area due to new developments. That is why the National Planning Policy Framework includes the 'agent of change' principle. This sets out that planning policies and decisions should ensure that new development can be integrated effectively with existing business and community facilities. This policy includes a specific mention of music venues.
The Government continues to engage with the sector on how local music and cultural venues can be protected through our wider reforms to planning policy.