Asked by: Andrew Snowden (Conservative - Fylde)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps he plans to take with local authorities to encourage social cohesion at a neighbourhood level in Lancashire.
Answered by Miatta Fahnbulleh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
The government has recently announced the Pride in Place programme, which will support up to 244 of Great Britain’s most in-need neighbourhoods with up to £20 million each over the next decade. Our long-term investment is designed not only to address deprivation, but also to rebuild social capital and strengthen community ties in these areas, with a portion of funding expected to support cohesion-related projects. In Lancashire, funding is being provided to Accrington, Burnley, Darwen, Rawtenstall, Nelson, Shadsworth & Intack in Blackburn, Fleetwood, Little Layton & Little Carleton in Blackpool, Ribbleton in Preston, Morecambe West End, and Skelmersdale South East.
The Pride in Place programme will target long-term investment to the communities that need it most, but some areas also need more immediate support to tackle local priorities. The Pride in Place Impact Fund will provide £150 million to up to 100 places, with each place receiving £1.5 million over two years to improve the places and spaces valued by local people. In Lancashire, the following local authorities have each been allocated £1.5 million from the Price in Place Impact Fund: Blackburn with Darwen, Blackpool, Burnley, Hyndburn, Pendle and Preston.
Furthermore, MHCLG is co-ordinating cross-Government efforts to develop a longer-term, more strategic approach to social cohesion - working in partnership with local government, communities and local stakeholders to rebuild, renew and address the deep-seated issues.
Asked by: Connor Naismith (Labour - Crewe and Nantwich)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps his Department has taken to consult neighbourhood groups on proposed noise reforms; and what assessment he has made of the potential impact of those reforms on local residents.
Answered by Miatta Fahnbulleh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
The government is exploring a range of reforms proposed by the recent Licensing Taskforce to support the hospitality industry and night-time economy. This includes considering whether the ‘agent of change’ principle should be strengthened in the licensing regime to better protect existing licensed premises and residents. We have launched a call for evidence, which will provide an opportunity for the public and a range of stakeholders – including neighbourhood groups – to shape any future changes. We also intend to explore how we can improve the implementation of the ‘agent of change’ principle as it applies in the planning system and will consult on a new set of national policies for decision-making later this year.
Asked by: James Cleverly (Conservative - Braintree)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
What discussions he has had with (a) Cabinet colleagues and (b) public bodies on the planned implementation of the definition of Islamophobia into the work of (i) government and (ii) public bodies.
Answered by Miatta Fahnbulleh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
Should government accept the recommendations of the Islamophobia Definition Working Group, the definition used will be non-statutory. It will enable government and other relevant bodies to have a greater understanding of unacceptable treatment and prejudice against Muslim communities. We will consider the advice of the Working Group, including discussing across government, before confirming next steps in due course.
Asked by: Lord Jamieson (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask His Majesty's Government how many more houses will be built as a result of the Thamesmead Waterfront, Crews Hills and Chase Park new towns compared to the local housing target set for Greater London Authority in July 2024.
Answered by Baroness Taylor of Stevenage - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
On 28 September, the Government published the independent New Towns Taskforce’s report and the Government’s initial response.
The Government takes on board the Taskforce’s recommendations to consider the interaction between new towns and housing targets ahead of its fuller response. We want to ensure that the right incentives are in place to support proactive local authorities to work with us to bring new towns forward.
Asked by: Lord Jamieson (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask His Majesty's Government how many more houses will be built as a result of the Tempsford new town compared to the local housing target set for Central Bedfordshire Council in July 2024.
Answered by Baroness Taylor of Stevenage - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
On 28 September, the Government published the independent New Towns Taskforce’s report and the Government’s initial response.
The Government takes on board the Taskforce’s recommendations to consider the interaction between new towns and housing targets ahead of its fuller response. We want to ensure that the right incentives are in place to support proactive local authorities to work with us to bring new towns forward.
Asked by: Lord Jamieson (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask His Majesty's Government how many more houses will be built as a result of the Manchester Victoria North new town compared to the local housing target set for the Greater Manchester Combined Authority in July 2024.
Answered by Baroness Taylor of Stevenage - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
On 28 September, the Government published the independent New Towns Taskforce’s report and the Government’s initial response.
The Government takes on board the Taskforce’s recommendations to consider the interaction between new towns and housing targets ahead of its fuller response. We want to ensure that the right incentives are in place to support proactive local authorities to work with us to bring new towns forward.
Asked by: Lord Jamieson (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask His Majesty's Government how many more houses will be built as a result of the Milton Keynes new town compared to the local housing target set for Milton Keynes Council in July 2024.
Answered by Baroness Taylor of Stevenage - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
On 28 September, the Government published the independent New Towns Taskforce’s report and the Government’s initial response.
The Government takes on board the Taskforce’s recommendations to consider the interaction between new towns and housing targets ahead of its fuller response. We want to ensure that the right incentives are in place to support proactive local authorities to work with us to bring new towns forward.
Asked by: Lord Jamieson (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask His Majesty's Government how many more houses will be built as a result of the Leeds South Bank new town compared to the local housing target set for Leeds Council in July 2024.
Answered by Baroness Taylor of Stevenage - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
On 28 September, the Government published the independent New Towns Taskforce’s report and the Government’s initial response.
The Government takes on board the Taskforce’s recommendations to consider the interaction between new towns and housing targets ahead of its fuller response. We want to ensure that the right incentives are in place to support proactive local authorities to work with us to bring new towns forward.
Asked by: Lord Jamieson (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask His Majesty's Government how many more houses will be built as a result of the Plymouth new town compared to the local housing target set for Plymouth Council in July 2024.
Answered by Baroness Taylor of Stevenage - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
On 28 September, the Government published the independent New Towns Taskforce’s report and the Government’s initial response.
The Government takes on board the Taskforce’s recommendations to consider the interaction between new towns and housing targets ahead of its fuller response. We want to ensure that the right incentives are in place to support proactive local authorities to work with us to bring new towns forward.
Asked by: Baroness Scott of Bybrook (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the administration of the Community Infrastructure Levy following reports that homeowners in some areas have been issued with bills of up to £70,000 for residential extensions and annexes.
Answered by Baroness Taylor of Stevenage - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
The Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) Regulations 2010 (as amended) make a number of provisions for charging authorities to grant exemptions from the levy. This includes those who extend their own homes or erect residential annexes within the grounds of their own homes. Further information is set out in the CIL guidance.
Councils are ultimately responsible for their own decisions on charging and enforcement, but we expect them to consider each case carefully. The government recognises that there are issues with how some exemptions from the levy are working in practice, and is therefore giving serious consideration to these issues as part of our commitment to making the developer contributions system as clear and effective as possible.
On routes to challenge or seek review of a CIL calculation, I refer the Noble Baroness to the answer to Question UIN 58857 on 19 June 2025.