Asked by: Baroness Hoey (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what criteria his Department uses to call in major planning applications in London.
Answered by Dominic Raab
The Secretary of State’s approach to calling in planning applications in England is set out in various Written Ministerial Statements to this House in particular on 26 October 2012 (column 72WS). The Written Ministerial Statement states that the “Secretary of State will, in general, only consider the use of his call in powers if planning issues of more than local importance are involved”. The Written Ministerial Statement sets out examples of reasons why applications could be called in such as the application may conflict with national policies on important matters or could have significant effects beyond their immediate locality. However, each case will continue to be considered on its individual merits.
Asked by: Baroness Hoey (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assurances Lambeth Council gave to his Department on the timing of its decision on the future of Vauxhall Bus Station.
Answered by Rishi Sunak
Lambeth Council gave no assurances on the timing of its decision on the future of Vauxhall Bus Station. The Department had an informal arrangement in place with the Council whereby they agreed not to issue their decision whilst the Secretary of State was considering the issue of call-in.
Asked by: Baroness Hoey (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, when he plans to make a decision on whether to call in the application by VCI Property Holdings to develop the island site at Vauxhall Cross.
Answered by Dominic Raab
The planning application by VCI Property Holdings to develop the island site at Vauxhall Cross is still being considered by Lambeth Council. The Council is expected to issue a draft decision in July 2018 following which they will consult with the London Mayor in order for him to decide whether he should direct the Council to refuse the application. The Secretary of State will await the Mayor's decision before considering whether or not to call-in the planning application.
Asked by: Baroness Hoey (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if he will make an assessment of the efficacy of the investment decisions made by Hyde Housing Association in relation to its establishment of a vending machine company.
Answered by Dominic Raab
Hyde Housing Association, like all housing associations, is an independent organisation. It is for its Board to make business decisions on how it meets its aims and objectives. Housing associations must ensure they comply with the law and, in relation to their social housing activities, any regulatory standards set by the Regulator of Social Housing.
Under the Value for Money standard they must consider value for money across their whole business and where they invest in non-social housing activity, they should consider whether this generates returns commensurate to the risk involved and justify where this is not the case.
Asked by: Baroness Hoey (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what his Department's policy is on a Housing Association's obligation to reinvest their funds into the properties that they maintain; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Dominic Raab
Housing Associations are independent organisations and it is for their Boards to make business decisions. However, they are not-for-profit organisations, and so we expect them to reinvest funds in their business. They are expected to comply with regulatory standards drawn up by the independent Regulator of Social Housing. This includes an expectation to maintain their properties by ensuring a prudent, planned approach to repairs and maintenance is taken. Their approach needs to reflect an appropriate balance of planned and responsive repairs.
Asked by: Baroness Hoey (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if he will take steps to ensure that (a) leaseholders at Malt House and Palm House in Vauxhall constituency and (b) other leaseholders do not have to pay for recladding of their blocks built by Bellway Homes.
Answered by Heather Wheeler
We have made clear that building owners should do all they can to protect leaseholders from costs relating to interim measures and cladding remediation – either funding it themselves or looking at ways to recoup the costs such as insurance claims, warranties or legal action.
It is important that leaseholders are able to access specialist advice to understand their rights. The Government announced on 4 December that the Department is providing additional funding to the Leasehold Advisory Service (LEASE), who provide free, initial and tailored advice to those affected, including a dedicated advice line and outreach to ensure they are aware of their rights and are supported to understand the terms of their leases.
The Department is keeping the situation for leaseholders under review.