Asked by: Julian Sturdy (Conservative - York Outer)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, if his Department will take steps to ensure that his policy on [the deregulation of planning laws] will protect biodiversity in areas of natural importance.
Answered by Lucy Frazer - Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport
The planning reforms in the Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill will give communities more control over what is built, where it is built, fostering better environmental outcomes and protecting the areas in which people live.
The National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) already makes clear that planning policies and decisions should minimise the impacts on biodiversity and provide net gains. The Environment Act 2021 also contains substantial provisions to strengthen the duty on public authorities to have regard to the conservation and enhancement of biodiversity. It introduces requirements for mandatory biodiversity net gain on new developments, which is to be implemented next year, which will go to ensure that biodiversity is protected in areas of natural importance.
Furthermore, the Environment Act requires that public authorities must have regard to any relevant Local Nature Recovery Strategies (LNRSs), Species Conservation Strategies and Protected Site Strategies as part of their strategic assessment of their functions.
Asked by: Julian Sturdy (Conservative - York Outer)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, what assessment he has made of the potential effect of introducing investment zones on wildlife.
Answered by Lee Rowley - Minister of State (Minister for Housing)
The published expression of interest guidance has been clear that applications which refuse to commit, in principle, to mitigate environmental impacts on or off site will not proceed. We are considering next steps on Investment Zones and will provide further details in due course.
Asked by: Julian Sturdy (Conservative - York Outer)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, if he will take steps with (a) local communities and (b) the Secretary of State for Defence to ensure that the sites of decommissioned military bases are adapted to the needs, demands and character of the area in which they are situated.
Answered by Lee Rowley - Minister of State (Minister for Housing)
Due to the role of Ministers in the planning system, it would not be appropriate for me to comment on individual cases or potential cases.
Where applications for planning permission come forward, including on decommissioned military sites, they must be determined in accordance with the local development plan, which will set out the vision for growth and the development needs for the area. During the determination of those applications, it is a statutory requirement that the public are consulted and that any representations made are taken into account in decision-making. When granting planning permission, local planning authorities then have broad powers to impose conditions to secure compliance with local policy.
Asked by: Julian Sturdy (Conservative - York Outer)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, if he will take steps with Cabinet colleagues to support the development of eco flat pack housing projects in the context of recent trends in demand for housing and rising energy costs.
Answered by Lee Rowley - Minister of State (Minister for Housing)
Eco flat-pack housing is an innovation in housebuilding, and falls into the category of Modern Methods of Construction.
The department is working across Government to increase the use of Modern Methods of Construction in homebuilding - these technologies have the potential to deliver more energy efficient homes to buyers, improve site efficiencies to meet growing demand and reduce waste.
Asked by: Julian Sturdy (Conservative - York Outer)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, what assessment he has made of the impact of the proposals to abolish no-fault section 21 evictions on landlords of student accommodation that is not classified as purpose-built student accommodation.
Answered by Marcus Jones - Treasurer of HM Household (Deputy Chief Whip, House of Commons)
The Government's commitment to abolish section 21 evictions and move to periodic tenancies will mean tenants enjoy greater security and feel empowered to challenge poor practice and unreasonable rent rises. We want as many tenants as possible to benefit from these reforms, including students living in the private rented sector.
In July 2019, the Department published a consultation - 'A New Deal for Renting', on the implications of removing assured shorthold tenancies, which included a question on student accommodation. 19,697 consultation responses in total were received from a range of individuals and organisations. Since then, the department has used consultation feedback and extensive stakeholder engagement to understand the impact of proposals of the Renters Reform Bill, including on the availability and supply of student accommodation in the private rented sector.
We expect most students will continue to move in-line with the academic year. However, the proposed reforms will support student households who have children or local roots to remain in their properties after studying if they wish to. It will also mean that students are not locked into contracts when their circumstances change or if property standards are poor.
We will continue to consider the impact of our reforms as we move towards legislation and will publish a full impact assessment in due course.
Asked by: Julian Sturdy (Conservative - York Outer)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, what steps his Department has taken to increase the availability of shared ownership properties.
Answered by Stuart Andrew - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
This Government believes that Shared Ownership has a vital role to play in extending the benefits of home ownership to those who might otherwise struggle to afford it. In April 2021, we introduced our new model of Shared Ownership, which forms a major part of our £11.5 billion Affordable Homes Programme (AHP).
The AHP aims to deliver up to 180,000 new homes, should economic conditions allow. Up to half of these homes will be for the new model of Shared Ownership. To further increase the availability of new model Shared Ownership homes, we have also introduced the Right to Shared Ownership. This will offer tenants living in eligible rented homes delivered through the AHP the opportunity to purchase their homes on Shared Ownership terms.
Asked by: Julian Sturdy (Conservative - York Outer)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, what steps his Department is taking to help reduce the ground rents payable by existing leaseholders.
Answered by Eddie Hughes
We are taking forward a comprehensive programme of reform to end unfair practices in the leasehold market, as announced in January 2021. The Leasehold Reform (Ground Rent) Act will put an end to ground rents for most new residential leasehold properties as part of the most significant changes to property law in a generation.
We understand the difficulties some existing leaseholders face with high and escalating ground rents. Unfair practices have no place in the housing market and the Government is committed to ending them. This is why the Government asked the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) to investigate potential mis-selling of homes and unfair terms in the leasehold sector. The Government has welcomed the action to tackle potential mis-selling and unfair terms in the leasehold sector and wants to see homeowners who have been affected obtain the justice and redress they deserve.
Asked by: Julian Sturdy (Conservative - York Outer)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, what plans his Department has to amend the Mobile Homes Act 1983 to use CPI rather than RPI as the measure of inflation for the purposes of annual pitch fee reviews for park homes.
Answered by Eddie Hughes
The Government remains committed to improving protections for park home residents and this includes changing the pitch fee review inflationary index from the Retail Prices Index (RPI) to the Consumer Prices Index (CPI). We will introduce the required legislation when the parliamentary timetable allows.
Asked by: Julian Sturdy (Conservative - York Outer)
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 value of wool as a thermal insulator in the construction of new environmentally-friendly homes.
Answered by Christopher Pincher
The Government is committed to meeting its target of net zero carbon emissions by 2050. The National Planning Policy Framework sets out how we expect the planning system to help mitigate and adapt to climate change. In their development plan policies, local planning authorities can encourage the use of sustainable materials like wool in new development
We have not made any assessment of the value of wool as a thermal insulator. The Building Regulations are generally couched in performance terms and do not prescribe the technologies, materials or fuels to be used, allowing builders the flexibility to innovate and select the most practical and cost-effective solutions in particular circumstances. Developers are able to use wool products in construction projects where it is safe to do so and where it can be shown to meet all applicable Building Regulations requirements.
Asked by: Julian Sturdy (Conservative - York Outer)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, for what reasons the Government is advertising COVID-19 Marshal roles with contracts running in excess of six months beyond the end of the final step of the Government’s roadmap for the easing of covid-19 restrictions.
Answered by Luke Hall - Minister of State (Education)
COVID-19 Secure Marshals or their equivalents are employed by local authorities, not central government.
The Government has provided £400 million of funding to local authorities through the Contain Outbreak Management Fund (COMF) to manage the pandemic at the local level. The funding can be used on a range of activities that support the management of local COVID-19 outbreaks including COVID-19 compliance and enforcement activity, such as the hiring of COVID-19 Secure Marshals or their equivalents. Local authorities have played an integral role in the nation’s pandemic response and have the expertise and understanding to inform what activities will best manage COVID-19 in their local areas.