Asked by: Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to ensure that those living in buildings with dangerous cladding do not need to pay towards the costs of remedying this danger.
Answered by Lord Greenhalgh
The Government is investing an unprecedented £5.1 billion to fund the cost of replacing unsafe cladding for leaseholders in residential buildings 18 metres and over in England. The fire risk is lower in buildings under 18 metres and costly remediation work is usually not needed. Where fire risks are identified, they should always be managed proportionately. The new Secretary of State is looking closely at this issue to make sure everything is being done to support leaseholders.
Asked by: Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to promote the use of wood in the construction of new buildings.
Answered by Lord Greenhalgh
The Government's England Trees Action Plan (ETAP) was published on 18 May 2021 and outlines the actions we are taking to increase the use of timber in construction, where it is safe to do so. This builds on commitments in the 25 Year Environment Plan and Clean Growth Strategy.
The Net Zero Strategy published on 19 October 2021 sets out the important role which timber and other sustainable construction materials will play in meeting our net zero targets. Guided by market analysis, fire safety and structural considerations, key opportunities for the safe growth of timber use will be in low-rise buildings using traditional and certain modern methods of construction, and in a wide range of commercial and non-residential settings.
We are working with key construction stakeholders to develop a policy roadmap on the use of timber in construction.
Asked by: Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to promote awareness of the Right to Build scheme.
Answered by Lord Greenhalgh
The promotion of further awareness of the Self-build and Custom Housebuilding Act 2015 (as amended), sometimes known colloquially as ‘the Right to Build’, and the creation of a custom and self-build housing delivery unit within Homes England, form part of the recommendations set out in Richard Bacon MP’s ‘Independent review into scaling up self-build and custom housebuilding’ commissioned by the Prime Minister and published on 21 August. The Government is currently considering the recommendations and will publish a response as soon as possible.
Asked by: Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the benefits of creating a custom and self-build housing delivery unit within Homes England.
Answered by Lord Greenhalgh
The promotion of further awareness of the Self-build and Custom Housebuilding Act 2015 (as amended), sometimes known colloquially as ‘the Right to Build’, and the creation of a custom and self-build housing delivery unit within Homes England, form part of the recommendations set out in Richard Bacon MP’s ‘Independent review into scaling up self-build and custom housebuilding’ commissioned by the Prime Minister and published on 21 August. The Government is currently considering the recommendations and will publish a response as soon as possible.
Asked by: Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what progress they have made with the development of the eight freeports designated in the March 2021 Budget.
Answered by Lord Greenhalgh
The Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities is working closely with each prospective English Freeport to agree governance arrangements and complete outline business cases and therefore is unable to comment on progress at specific sites. However, it is anticipated that the first Freeports will be operational in late 2021.
Asked by: Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask Her Majesty's Government when they will respond to the consultation on accessibility for new homes in England completed in December 2020.
Answered by Lord Greenhalgh
We are currently considering responses to the consultation and will set out plans to improve the framework to deliver accessible new homes in due course.
Asked by: Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what budget they are providing to the lasting memorial of the victims of the Grenfell Tower fire; and how that budget will be apportioned between (1) capital costs, and (2) the costs of maintaining the memorial.
Answered by Lord Greenhalgh
The Government is supporting the independent Grenfell Tower Memorial Commission and has committed to funding its work. Once the Memorial Commission has established its vision for a memorial on the Grenfell Tower site, my Department will work to establish and agree an appropriate budget.
Asked by: Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask Her Majesty's Government who will make the decision on a lasting memorial to those who (1) suffered, and (2) lost their lives, at Grenfell Tower; and when the decision will be announced.
Answered by Lord Greenhalgh
In March 2018, a set of Principles that underpin the decision-making process in relation to the future of the Grenfell Tower site were agreed and published, (attached) which led to the establishment of the independent Grenfell Tower Memorial Commission. The terms of reference for the Memorial Commission are to establish a proposal for:
The Memorial Commission is made up of representatives of the bereaved, survivors and local residents, and will work with the local community to agree a consensus on the most fitting and appropriate way to remember those who lost their lives in the Grenfell tragedy. The Memorial Commission is continuing to work with the local community to establish its proposal.