Asked by: Siobhain McDonagh (Labour - Mitcham and Morden)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, whether the task force on older people’s housing announced in the Levelling Up White Paper will include a focus on housing options which include CQC-regulated care provision onsite.
Answered by Stuart Andrew - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
As part of the Levelling Up White Paper, we announced a new taskforce to look at ways we can provide more choice, better quality and greater security of housing for older people, and support the growth of a thriving older people's housing sector. This includes considering how to increase the supply of a range of specialist housing, including housing with care, across the country.
This work will be taken forward in partnership with the Department of Health and Social Care, building on the commitments set out in their recent white paper on adult social care reform.
The taskforce will examine barriers to increasing the supply of older peoples housing, as well as the issues older people face when it comes to considering their housing options in later life. This includes the role of the planning system in ensuring new development caters for a diverse range of housing needs. Further information on the taskforce will be announced soon.
Asked by: Siobhain McDonagh (Labour - Mitcham and Morden)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what recent estimate he has made of the number of families living in temporary accommodation in London who have to travel over an hour each way to their children’s schools.
Answered by Eddie Hughes
Time spent in temporary accommodation means people are getting help and it ensures no family is without a roof over their head.
We do not collect data on the distance of temporary accommodation from the household’s school. The legislation and guidance set out that in the first instance, local authorities should try to place individuals within their own area, and retain established links with schools, doctors, social workers and other key services and support. However, when this is not possible, they should place the household as near as possible to the original local authority. Placing a household out of the local authority area should be as a last resort and authorities must consider the impact a change in location would have on a household.
If a local authority places a household into accommodation in another local area, they are required by law to notify the local authority of any placement, to ensure there is no disruption to schooling or employment for example.
Asked by: Siobhain McDonagh (Labour - Mitcham and Morden)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what plans he has to establish a timeline for the introduction of space standards on new homes delivered under permitted development rights.
Answered by Christopher Pincher
We laid regulations before Parliament on 11 November which will introduce a requirement that all homes delivered through permitted development rights meet, at a minimum, the nationally described space standards. This requirement will come into effect on 6 April 2021, and will apply to applications for prior approval submitted on or after that date.
Asked by: Siobhain McDonagh (Labour - Mitcham and Morden)
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 potential effect of the proposed expansion of the small sites exemption policy on the supply of social and affordable housing in England.
Answered by Christopher Pincher
To aid small and medium-sized builders through economic recovery, we have consulted on a proposal to increase the current threshold at which affordable housing contributions can be collected on new developments. This proposal would ensure that sites that may not have been developed due to viability issues would go ahead creating the homes our country needs.
Details of the impact of this proposal are set out in the Changes to the current planning system consultation, which closed on 1 October: https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/changes-to-the-current-planning-system
It is important that we consider the consultation feedback thoroughly. We will respond to the consultation in due course.
Asked by: Siobhain McDonagh (Labour - Mitcham and Morden)
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 potential effect of the proposed expansion of the small sites exemption policy on the supply of social and affordable housing in London.
Answered by Christopher Pincher
To aid small and medium-sized builders through economic recovery, we have consulted on a proposal to increase the current threshold at which affordable housing contributions can be collected on new developments. This proposal would ensure that sites that may not have been developed due to viability issues would go ahead creating the homes our country needs.
Details of the impact of this proposal are set out in the Changes to the current planning system consultation, which closed on 1 October: https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/changes-to-the-current-planning-system
It is important that we consider the consultation feedback thoroughly. We will respond to the consultation in due course.
Asked by: Siobhain McDonagh (Labour - Mitcham and Morden)
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 potential effect of the proposed expansion of the small sites exemption policy on the ability of SME developers to take on new projects.
Answered by Christopher Pincher
To aid small and medium-sized builders through economic recovery, we have consulted on a proposal to increase the current threshold at which affordable housing contributions can be collected on new developments. This proposal would ensure that sites that may not have been developed due to viability issues would go ahead creating the homes our country needs.
Details of the impact of this proposal are set out in the Changes to the current planning system consultation, which closed on 1 October: https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/changes-to-the-current-planning-system
It is important that we consider the consultation feedback thoroughly. We will respond to the consultation in due course.
Asked by: Siobhain McDonagh (Labour - Mitcham and Morden)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what estimate he has made of the number of additional homes that will be delivered by the proposed expansion of the small sites exemption policy.
Answered by Christopher Pincher
To aid small and medium-sized builders through economic recovery, we have consulted on a proposal to increase the current threshold at which affordable housing contributions can be collected on new developments. This proposal would ensure that sites that may not have been developed due to viability issues would go ahead creating the homes our country needs.
Details of the impact of this proposal are set out in the Changes to the current planning system consultation, which closed on 1 October: https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/changes-to-the-current-planning-system
It is important that we consider the consultation feedback thoroughly. We will respond to the consultation in due course.
Asked by: Siobhain McDonagh (Labour - Mitcham and Morden)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what estimate he has made of the number of new housing developments that will be available under the proposed expansion of the small sites exemption policy.
Answered by Christopher Pincher
To aid small and medium-sized builders through economic recovery, we have consulted on a proposal to increase the current threshold at which affordable housing contributions can be collected on new developments. This proposal would ensure that sites that may not have been developed due to viability issues would go ahead creating the homes our country needs.
Details of the impact of this proposal are set out in the Changes to the current planning system consultation, which closed on 1 October: https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/changes-to-the-current-planning-system
It is important that we consider the consultation feedback thoroughly. We will respond to the consultation in due course.
Asked by: Siobhain McDonagh (Labour - Mitcham and Morden)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
What steps the Government is taking to support tenants in (a) multiple occupancy dwellings and (b) buildings with multiple residences during the covid-19 outbreak.
Answered by Christopher Pincher
All tenants benefit from our unprecedented support package and protection from eviction. This is supported by guidance, including to tenants who are shielded or in accommodation with shared facilities. Tenants are spending more time at home so we’re clear that inspections and repairs to remedy direct risks should take place in all rented properties, in line with social distancing requirements.
Asked by: Siobhain McDonagh (Labour - Mitcham and Morden)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what the timetable is for the publication of the Accelerated Planning White Paper.
Answered by Christopher Pincher
The Government will publish a Planning White Paper shortly. It will set out our ambitious agenda for planning reform over this Parliament to make the planning system clearer, more accessible and more certain for all users.