Asked by: Liam Fox (Conservative - North Somerset)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, what his planned timetable is for publishing a new National Planning Policy Framework.
Answered by Lee Rowley - Minister of State (Minister for Housing)
We intend to publish updates to the existing NPPF later in 2023 after considering comments received from our December 2022 consultation.
Asked by: Liam Fox (Conservative - North Somerset)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, what recent progress he has made on forming the cross-departmental taskforce on older people's housing.
Answered by Stuart Andrew - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
As announced in the Levelling Up White Paper, a new taskforce on older people's housing will be launched shortly, looking at ways we can provide greater choice, quality and security of housing for older people. This work will be taken forward in partnership with the Department of Health and Social Care.
Further details regarding the remit of the taskforce, as well as the timing and frequency of meetings will be confirmed in due course.
Asked by: Liam Fox (Conservative - North Somerset)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, when the cross-department taskforce on older people's housing will be formed.
Answered by Stuart Andrew - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
As announced in the Levelling Up White Paper, a new taskforce on older people's housing will be launched shortly, looking at ways we can provide greater choice, quality and security of housing for older people. This work will be taken forward in partnership with the Department of Health and Social Care.
Further details regarding the remit of the taskforce, as well as the timing and frequency of meetings will be confirmed in due course.
Asked by: Liam Fox (Conservative - North Somerset)
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 ensure that local communities' knowledge of green belt and flood plains is taken into account when planning applications are under consideration.
Answered by Christopher Pincher
Local authorities are required to undertake a formal period of public consultation of not less than 21 days, prior to deciding a planning application. Effective consultation allows the local authority to identify and consider all relevant planning issues associated with the development proposed. Consultees, particularly those living near the site in question, may offer views or detailed information relevant to the consideration of the application. Where material considerations are raised by local residents, these must be taken into account by the local authority. The weight attached to a particular consideration is a matter of judgement for the local authority as the decision-maker in the first instance.
The Government’s general expectations of the planning system with regard to the Green Belt and to flood risk are made clear in our National Planning Policy Framework. The Framework states, for instance, that inappropriate development in areas at risk of flooding should be directed away from areas at highest risk. If new homes are necessary in a flood risk area, and no suitable sites at lower risk are available, the local authority should ensure that the development will be safe, appropriately flood resistant and resilient, and will not increase flood risk elsewhere. Where those tests are not met, development should not be allowed.
Asked by: Liam Fox (Conservative - North Somerset)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps he plans to take through the Planning White Paper to (a) restrict land banking and (b) prevent developers from procuring more land until sites on which they already have planning permission have been built out.
Answered by Christopher Pincher
The Government is clear that where planning permission is granted for new development, developers must deliver those new permissions as quickly as possible. Our Planning for the Future White Paper has put forward proposals to support build out through planning, including revising national policy to encourage masterplans and design codes for substantial development sites to see a variety of development types by different builders come forward at once. We will be exploring further options to support faster build out as part of the wider package of reforms and look forward to reviewing the consultation responses in full.
Asked by: Liam Fox (Conservative - North Somerset)
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 through the Planning White Paper to balance the building of new homes with the provision of sufficient infrastructure to support growing communities.
Answered by Christopher Pincher
We understand how important it is to local communities that new housing development is supported by the provision of infrastructure. The?proposal?to create a new Infrastructure Levy,?as set out in the?Planning for the Future?White Paper,?will?support?a more streamlined and accessible planning system. The new Levy will raise at least as much value as is currently captured through CIL and section 106 and?will continue to?be collected and spent at the local level, on priorities including infrastructure and affordable housing.
The consultation on the White Paper closed on 29 October. It is important that we analyse and scrutinise the consultation feedback thoroughly, and we will respond formally.
Asked by: Liam Fox (Conservative - North Somerset)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what steps he is taking to encourage zero-carbon housing; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Lord Wharton of Yarm
I refer my rt. hon. Friend to the answer I gave him on 23 October 2015, PQ 12627.
Asked by: Liam Fox (Conservative - North Somerset)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what steps he is taking to encourage zero carbon housing.
Answered by Lord Wharton of Yarm
I refer my rt. Hon. Friend to the answer I gave him on 23 October 2015, PQ 12627.
Asked by: Liam Fox (Conservative - North Somerset)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what timescale he has set for the completion of the next tranche of zero carbon housing.
Answered by Lord Wharton of Yarm
As detailed in the Productivity Plan - ‘Fixing the foundations: Creating a more prosperous nation’ - the Government will not be implementing zero carbon homes. The zero carbon homes standard, in particular the ‘allowable solutions’ carbon off-setting element, would have placed a significant regulatory burden on the house building industry.
The energy performance standards for new homes were strengthened by over 30% during the last Parliament. The latest changes to standards came into force last year and it is important for those changes to be given time to bed in.
The Government is keeping the energy standards for homes under review and must also meet its obligations under the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive. As part of this the Government must report to the European Commission in 2017 on whether UK building standards are ‘cost optimal’ and ensure that all new buildings are ‘nearly zero energy buildings’ from 2021.
Asked by: Liam Fox (Conservative - North Somerset)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what steps he is taking to promote zero carbon housing.
Answered by Lord Wharton of Yarm
As detailed in the Productivity Plan - ‘Fixing the foundations: Creating a more prosperous nation’ - the Government will not be implementing zero carbon homes. The zero carbon homes standard, in particular the ‘allowable solutions’ carbon off-setting element, would have placed a significant regulatory burden on the house building industry.
The energy performance standards for new homes were strengthened by over 30% during the last Parliament. The latest changes to standards came into force last year and it is important for those changes to be given time to bed in.
The Government is keeping the energy standards for homes under review and must also meet its obligations under the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive. As part of this the Government must report to the European Commission in 2017 on whether UK building standards are ‘cost optimal’ and ensure that all new buildings are ‘nearly zero energy buildings’ from 2021.