Asked by: James Cartlidge (Conservative - South Suffolk)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what the total value was of all reclaimed equity loans in UK residential property where the holder was a government department in each of the last five years.
Answered by Lord Barwell
The Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) operates and administers a number of current and past equity loan and equity share schemes for the Department for Communities and Local Government.
The HCA has received the following funds in redemption of equity loans in each of the last five years:
2011-12 £4.020 million
2012-13 £12.141 million
2013-14 £34.731 million
2014-15 £70.952 million
2015-16 £182.916 million
They include loans from several schemes: Help to Buy: Equity Loan, FirstBuy, HomeBuy Direct and First-Time Buyers’ Initiative.
The Ministry of Defence operated a scheme: Affordable Homes Ownership scheme (AFHOS) until March 2014. AFHOS receipts to date are:
Receipts during period 2011-15: £1.457 million
Receipts during financial year 2015-16: £1.896 million
The Scottish and Welsh Governments and the Northern Ireland Housing Executive also operate equity loan and equity share schemes for home ownership, on which they can provide information.
Asked by: James Cartlidge (Conservative - South Suffolk)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what information his Department holds on how many residential planning permissions which were granted in England in the last five years have yet to commence building work.
Answered by Lord Barwell
As of 1 July 2016 planning permission had been granted since 1 January 2011 for 311,000 homes on sites where work had not yet started. However, latest figures show that on these sites yet to be started, 90 per cent of the dwellings are now progressing towards a start, up from 85 per cent in July 2015.
There are a range of factors which can delay the start of work on site. We are taking forward a range of proposals to help drive up delivery post permission, including changes in legislation to tackle unnecessary planning conditions and providing additional investment in infrastructure to help unlock housing sites and we expect developers and local authorities to work together to tackle problems at a local level.
Asked by: James Cartlidge (Conservative - South Suffolk)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, if his Department will undertake an analysis of the benefits of owner-occupied retirement housing to residents of that housing; and if his Department will bring forward proposals to increase delivery of that housing.
Answered by Brandon Lewis
The Government believes that meeting the housing needs of our older population is key to helping people to live well and remain healthier longer. That is why we are providing £400 million over the Spending Review period to deliver 8,000 affordable specialist homes for the vulnerable, elderly or those with disabilities. A commitment to funding from the Department of Health could deliver up to a further 7,500 units over the next five years.
The National Planning Policy Framework directs local authorities to plan for a mix of housing based on current and future demographic trends, and the needs of different groups in the area, including older people and disabled people. In March 2015 we strengthened planning guidance to encourage local authorities to recognise the importance for planning for older people’s housing.
Asked by: James Cartlidge (Conservative - South Suffolk)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what criteria and conditions will need to be fulfilled for rural areas to be successful in applying for Enterprise Zone status; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Lord Wharton of Yarm
In this round, we welcome proposals which have been clearly identified as the Local Enterprise Partnership’s top local growth priority, and/or involve smaller towns, districts and rural areas.
The Rural Productivity Plan, launched on 20 August by the my rt. hon. Friends, the Chancellor of the Exchequer and the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, also encourages such towns, districts and rural areas to work with Local Enterprise Partnerships to apply for an Enterprise Zone in their area.
The criteria and conditions for all bids, including those in rural areas, is that they have the support of the Local Enterprise Partnership and offer good value for money to the taxpayer. Full requirements have been published on the Government’s website.
Asked by: James Cartlidge (Conservative - South Suffolk)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what estimate he has made of the amount of revenue to the Exchequer foregone due to partial exemptions from business rates for charity shops in each of the last five years.
Answered by Marcus Jones - Treasurer of HM Household (Deputy Chief Whip, House of Commons)
The total amount of relief from business rates granted to charities (including charity shops) in England in each of the last five years is as follows:
2009-10 - £955 million
2010-11 - £1,009 million
2011-12 - £1,171 million
2012-13 - £1,332 million
2013-14 - £1,439 million
The figures include both mandatory charity relief, which local authorities must grant, and discretionary charity relief, which is granted at an authorities’ discretion. The figures include both relief granted in respect of the current year and also adjustments made in respect of previous years.