Asked by: Jane Hunt (Conservative - Loughborough)
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 effectiveness of planning policy on encouraging development of brownfield land.
Answered by Christopher Pincher
It is for local authorities to identify brownfield land suitable for housing in their published registers, and to assess and plan how all brownfield land might best be used, in line with chapter 11 of the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF)
It is too soon to calculate the effects of the revised NPPF
Our Land Use Change statistical release provides data on the proportion of new residential addresses created on previously developed land and on other individual land uses as well. In 2017-18, 53 per cent of new residential addresses were created on previously developed land. The proportion of new residential addresses created on previously developed land has remained above 50 per cent since the data was first collected in 2013-14. Statistics for 2018-19 will be published in due course.
Asked by: Jane Hunt (Conservative - Loughborough)
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 merits of designating brownfield sites around cities for residential development over commercial.
Answered by Christopher Pincher
It is for local authorities to determine where they meet local housing need, having regard to planning constraints in their area, to other planning goals, and to our National Planning Policy Framework. Local authorities should plan for all strategic priorities, not only the new homes we need but economic development, employment, and vibrant and prosperous town centres. The Framework expects local authorities to prioritise brownfield land for development wherever possible, and to assess and plan which land-use individual sites should serve. Our Planning for the Future consultation proposes that, under a reformed system, local authorities would use the plan-making process to categorise all their land as areas for growth, renewal or protection. They could direct development onto brownfield, ensure the continued protection of Green Belt and other valued countryside, and deliver - through a fast-track process - beautiful buildings that accord with design guidance.
Asked by: Jane Hunt (Conservative - Loughborough)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether he has made an assessment of the potential need to update his Department’s guidance for domestic abuse safe accommodation provision, published in March 2020.
Answered by Luke Hall - Minister of State (Education)
Government recognised the importance of issuing early guidance to domestic abuse safe accommodation providers to support service delivery during the pandemic. We will be working with Public Health England to review this.
Asked by: Jane Hunt (Conservative - Loughborough)
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 an assessment of the potential merits of suspending the five-year housing land supply for 12 months due to the effect that the covid-19 outbreak has had on (a) new build starts and (b) the ability of local planning authorities to meet that supply.
Answered by Christopher Pincher
I note the concerns you raise regarding demonstrating a 5 year land supply under current circumstances. However, it is important to keep the planning system moving to enable it to play its full part in the economic recovery to come and we will continue to monitor the situation.
As the Prime Minister set out on 30 June, home building will play an important role in kick-starting economic recovery across the United Kingdom. The Government announced a package of measures to support this recovery, including strong investment in infrastructure and support for smaller developers to boost the construction industry and speed up rebuilding.
In addition, the Business and Planning Act 2020, will support local authorities in delivering new housing, through measures such as allowing more flexible working hours on construction sites, to ensure that work can continue on sites whilst workers adhere to safe working practices, and extending the duration of certain planning permissions (and listed building consents) to ensure that they don’t lapse unnecessarily as a result of disruption caused by COVID-19.
Asked by: Jane Hunt (Conservative - Loughborough)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what discussions officials in his Department have had with representatives from (a) local authorities and (b) swimming pool operators on the challenges faced by swimming pool operators as a result of covid-19.
Answered by Simon Clarke
MHCLG continues to work?closely with local authorities to manage the impacts of COVID-19 on our society. My officials, together with officials from the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport are engaging with the sector to understand the impact which coronavirus has had across a range of areas, including leisure.
Asked by: Jane Hunt (Conservative - Loughborough)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment his Department has made of the level of risk of closures to swimming facilities as a result of the covid-19 lockdown.
Answered by Simon Clarke
MHCLG continues to work?closely with local authorities to manage the impacts of COVID-19 on our society. My officials, together with officials from the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport are engaging with the sector to understand the impact which coronavirus has had across a range of areas, including leisure.
Asked by: Jane Hunt (Conservative - Loughborough)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that high speed broadband infrastructure is included in new housing development sites before those houses are occupied.
Answered by Esther McVey - Minister without Portfolio (Cabinet Office)
New build connectivity is a priority for this Government. Ensuring new homes are built with the future in mind, ready to accept the next generation of digital infrastructure, remains vitally important.
The Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, supported by my department, issued a policy consultation in 2018 outlining proposals to mandate gigabit-capable connections to new build developments.
Government confirmed its intention to legislate on new build connectivity in the Queen's Speech and the Government response, setting out the next steps, will be issued in the Spring.
Asked by: Jane Hunt (Conservative - Loughborough)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps he is taking to establish the Single Housing Infrastructure Fund; and to what timescale planning rules and regulations will be amended to reflect that policy.
Answered by Esther McVey - Minister without Portfolio (Cabinet Office)
As set out in the Queen’s Speech, this Government will introduce Single Housing Infrastructure Fund to provide the roads, schools and GP surgeries needed to support new homes. We will set out further details shortly.