Asked by: Lord Judd (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask Her Majesty's Government why they did not call in the plans for an inquiry into the new coal mine in Cumbria.
Answered by Lord Greenhalgh
The Secretary of State’s powers to call in a case are used very selectively, and on 6 January 2021 he decided not to call in this application. The responsibility for determining it is with Cumbria County Council. Further representations to MHCLG when received are carefully considered.
Asked by: Lord Judd (Labour - 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 findings of the report by the CPRE State of Brownfield Report 2020, published in October 2020.
Answered by Lord Greenhalgh
We will consider CPRE’s recommendations as we take forward our reforms of the planning system, including those proposed in our Planning for the future consultation. This White Paper made clear that, alongside our ambition to build the homes we need and make the planning process more effective, we will promote the stewardship and improvement of our precious countryside and environment. It is our firm intention to preserve and enhance important natural assets, to encourage provision of new green infrastructure, and to maximise the development potential of suitable brownfield land.
Asked by: Lord Judd (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what policies relating to National Parks are set out within their proposals for reform of the planning system in England.
Answered by Lord Greenhalgh
The Planning for the future consultation states that, to achieve effective stewardship and enhancement of our natural and historic environment, the reformed planning system will continue to protect places of environmental and cultural value which matter to us. Development plans will still play a vital role in identifying areas of national importance such as National Parks.
The consultation remains open until 29 October 2020. After considering all responses received, we will publish the Government’s conclusions in due course, setting out any decisions and how we intend to implement them.
Asked by: Lord Judd (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask Her Majesty's Government why humanist weddings are limited to gatherings of six people under COVID-19 regulations; and what plans they have to change those rules to reflect those for religious and civil marriages which allow up to 15 people.
Answered by Lord Greenhalgh
Humanists weddings can take place with 15 people present under these Regulations, as is the case for religious ceremonies and civil ceremonies.
Asked by: Lord Judd (Labour - 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 capacity of councils to set housing policies that provide stakeholders with clarity over what affordable housing level should be delivered if the draft National Planning Policy Framework is adopted.
Answered by Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth
The draft National Planning Policy Framework proposes a standard method for assessing housing needs, with affordable housing needs considered in light of the figures this provides. This is intended to make the approach easier, cheaper and more transparent, saving authorities time and money when preparing their plans. We are considering the responses to the consultation on the draft Framework, including its implications for the capacity of local planning authorities.
Asked by: Lord Judd (Labour - 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 joint report from Shelter and the Campaign to Protect Rural England published in March Viable villages: closing the planning loophole that undercuts affordable housing in the countryside; and what is their response.
Answered by Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth
The Government’s proposed new approach to viability seeks to address the issues raised by Shelter and the Campaign to Protect Rural England by reducing the use of viability assessments at the decision making stage, where affordable housing contributions can be negotiated away. The Government is carefully considering all responses to our draft National Planning Policy Framework, including those of the Campaign to Protect Rural England and Shelter. We aim to publish the new Framework in the Summer.
Asked by: Lord Judd (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what is their assessment of the extent to which a new viability system introduced through the updated National Planning Policy Framework and National Planning Practice Guidance would lead to more affordable homes being built in rural England; and what is their estimate of the number of additional affordable homes that will be built.
Answered by Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth
The Government’s proposed approach to viability in the updated National Planning Policy Framework and associated Guidance will seek to reduce the use of viability assessments, and resulting renegotiation, at the decision making stage. We do not have sufficient data to make an assessment of any increase in the number of affordable homes to be built as a result of the proposal.
Asked by: Lord Judd (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what action they are taking to ensure that all new housing in the public sector is safe, of good quality, with immediate access to environmentally attractive space, close to full shopping amenities and public services, and with adequate and accessible public transport.
Answered by Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth
The National Planning Policy Framework and supporting guidance set out clear expectations for new development.
The expectation is for development to be well connected to amenities and employment. They should also benefit from good transport infrastructure, safe and well overlooked streets and spaces, as well as safe and useable green infrastructure. These high quality new homes would be delivered by a range of housing providers for rent or sale.
Grovernment programmes, including the Garden Towns and Villages and Public Land programmes, will ensure that new housing is of good quality and well designed.
The estate regeneration programme is supporting 105 estates through grant funding at early stages to deliver improvements to the quality of life of residents.
Asked by: Lord Judd (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what action they are taking to ensure that all new housing in the public sector is well-designed to avoid stigmatisation.
Answered by Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth
The National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) and supporting Planning Practice Guidance (PPG) sets out clear requirements for all new housing development, including housing for sale and rent, to be of high quality.
The Housing White Paper sets out the Governments proposals to strengthen the NPPF so that local authorities can turn down planning applications on the grounds of poor design.
Good planning can help build communities, and the NPPF requires local authorities to deliver sustainable, inclusive and mixed communities with a mix of homes for rent and sale appropriate to the needs of their area.
Local authorities, housing associations and developers should deliver high quality homes and places where there is no visual difference between tenures, whether for affordable housing for rent or market sale.
Asked by: Lord Judd (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government how they will ensure that future housing policy takes account of issues of community, accessibility of good transport facilities, social and cultural amenities and medical care are central to proposals; and what action they are taking in this regard.
Answered by Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth
The National Planning Policy Framework is clear that local planning authorities should plan positively for the development and infrastructure required in their local area, through their Local Plans. It asks local planning authorities to:
- identify priority areas for viable infrastructure, and work with neighbouring authorities and transport providers to develop plans for its provision, including roads and transport links, social and cultural amenities and medical provision;
- work to create safe and secure layouts which minimise conflicts between traffic and cyclists or pedestrians, and give priority to pedestrian and cycle movements;
- plan positively for the provision and use of shared space, community facilities such as local shops, meeting places, sports venues, cultural buildings, public houses and places of worship and other local services and guard against the unnecessary loss of valued facilities and services.
This Government further recognises the importance of infrastructure with our £2.3 billion Housing Infrastructure Fund, which will open for bids this year. The need for infrastructure to support development is a material consideration in deciding whether development is appropriate for a particular location.
The Framework is clear that local planning authorities should create a shared vision with communities of the residential environment and facilities they wish to see. To support this, local planning authorities should aim to involve all sections of the community in the development of Local Plans and in planning decisions, and should facilitate neighbourhood planning.