Asked by: Lord Ravensdale (Crossbench - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the remarks by the Minister of State for the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities when she stated that they "intend to do a fuller review of the national planning policy framework to ensure it contributes to climate change mitigation and adaptation as fully as possible" (HC Deb col 787), when they will do so.
Answered by Baroness Penn - Minister on Leave (Parliamentary Under Secretary of State)
The existing National Planning Policy Framework is clear that the planning system should support the transition to a low carbon future. Plans should take a proactive approach to mitigating and adapting to climate change, taking into account the long-term implications, in line with the objectives and provisions of the Climate Change Act 2008.
We will publish proposed changes to national planning policy in due course, including those arising from the introduction of the Levelling Up and Regeneration Act and the creation of National Development Management Policies.
Asked by: Lord Ravensdale (Crossbench - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the remarks by Earl Howe on 4 September (HL Deb col 282), whether the consultation on their approach to measuring and reducing embodied carbon in new buildings will be launched before the end of the year; and which “specific interventions” will be included in the consultation.
Answered by Baroness Penn - Minister on Leave (Parliamentary Under Secretary of State)
The Government remains committed to consulting on our approach to measuring and reducing embodied carbon in due course.
Government is listening to calls for a change to the Building Regulations. This consultation, and the in-depth research which informs it, will support the development of future policy.
Asked by: Lord Ravensdale (Crossbench - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask Her Majesty's Government when they intend to publish their plans about the support they intend to provide to leaseholders in buildings below 18 metres in height that require fire safety remediation work; and what additional support they plan to provide to those leaseholders beyond the provision of the Government-backed loans they announced on 10 February.
Answered by Lord Greenhalgh
Between 11 metres and 18 metres the risk profile of buildings is different and will not always require the same level of remediation when risks are identified. However, we want to make sure the residents and leaseholders in these buildings also have peace of mind and financial certainty. That is why the Government has announced a generous financing scheme which will mean that buildings of 11-18 metres in height will be able to access finance for the remediation of unsafe cladding, with a commitment that leaseholders will not need to pay more than £50 a month towards this. By providing this financing scheme we are ensuring that funding is available for remediation, accelerating the process and making homes safer as quickly as possible.
On 10 February the Government announced it will provide an additional £3.5 billion, which builds on steps already taken to support leaseholders, including £1.6 billion of funding to remediate unsafe cladding, the £30 million waking watch fund to help end excessive costs and new legislation in the Building Safety Bill which will ensure homes are made and kept safer in future. This brings the total investment in building safety to an unprecedented over £5 billion.
We realise the need to get unsafe cladding remediated as swiftly as possible as public safety is our first priority. We will publish further details as soon as possible.