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Written Question
Solar Power: Agriculture
Tuesday 20th December 2022

Asked by: Baroness Maclean of Redditch (Conservative - Life peer)

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, what the legal requirements are for including surface water flooding risks in solar farm applications.

Answered by Lucy Frazer

The National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) is clear that all sources of flood risk, now and in the future, need to be considered in planning applications, including the risk of surface water flooding. This is to ensure that new development is safe for its lifetime without increasing the risk of flooding elsewhere.

Where appropriate, for example if the application is classed as major development, applications should be supported by a site-specific flood-risk assessment and sustainable drainage strategy. Lead Local Flood Authorities must be consulted on surface water drainage considerations in applications for such developments. The Environment Agency are a statutory consultee on planning applications in any area which has been notified to the local planning authority by the Agency as having critical drainage problems.

Written Question
Housing: Energy
Monday 19th December 2022

Asked by: Baroness Maclean of Redditch (Conservative - Life peer)

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the Whole Housing Approach pilot, which was funded by the Department from 2018 – March 2021.

Answered by Felicity Buchan

The Whole Housing Approach pilot was an innovative and transformative partnership project bringing together Stockton on Tees, Cambridgeshire and Peterborough and three West London Boroughs - Westminster, Kensington and Chelsea, Hammersmith and Fulham and the domestic abuse sector which helped ensure that victims of domestic abuse lived in accommodation that is safe and get the right support.

An independent evaluation report commissioned by the Domestic Abuse Housing Alliance after the first year found that “for every £1 invested the cost benefit ratio ranged from £3.39 to £59.27. This provided potential total savings of £68,545.80 to the public purse”.

Speech in Commons Chamber - Wed 09 Nov 2022
Levelling Up Rural Britain

"Thank you Madam Deputy Speaker for the opportunity to make a contribution to this vital debate. I thank my hon. Friend the Member for North Devon (Selaine Saxby) for securing it.

Many of my constituents may wonder why I am speaking in a debate about rural Britain. I am blessed …..."
Baroness Maclean of Redditch - View Speech

View all Baroness Maclean of Redditch (Con - Life peer) contributions to the debate on: Levelling Up Rural Britain
Speech in Commons Chamber - Tue 28 Jan 2020
Criminal Law

"It is a pleasure to speak in this debate and to follow the incredible contributions of my hon. Friends, particularly my hon. Friend the Member for Bishop Auckland (Dehenna Davison)—she is so new to this place, yet she speaks with such passion—and my more experienced hon. Friend the Member for …..."
Baroness Maclean of Redditch - View Speech

View all Baroness Maclean of Redditch (Con - Life peer) contributions to the debate on: Criminal Law
Speech in Commons Chamber - Tue 02 Jul 2019
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government

"It is a great opportunity to speak in this important debate, and a pleasure to follow the hon. Member for Warwick and Leamington (Matt Western).

Local government is at the heart of what we all do as constituency MPs. We are all put on these Benches to stand up for …..."
Baroness Maclean of Redditch - View Speech

View all Baroness Maclean of Redditch (Con - Life peer) contributions to the debate on: Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
Speech in Commons Chamber - Wed 24 Apr 2019
Local Government and Social Care Funding

"It is a great pleasure to follow the hon. Member for St Helens South and Whiston (Ms Rimmer). She gave a very good and comprehensive speech, but I cannot say the same about the hon. Member for Denton and Reddish (Andrew Gwynne), the Opposition Front-Bench spokesman, who gave an impassioned …..."
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View all Baroness Maclean of Redditch (Con - Life peer) contributions to the debate on: Local Government and Social Care Funding
Speech in Commons Chamber - Wed 24 Apr 2019
Local Government and Social Care Funding

"I thank the hon. Lady for that point; we work together on the all-party group and we share those concerns. I was about to press the Minister for more updates on when we can see the Green Paper, because while this debate is about local authority funding, of course there …..."
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View all Baroness Maclean of Redditch (Con - Life peer) contributions to the debate on: Local Government and Social Care Funding
Speech in Commons Chamber - Wed 24 Apr 2019
Local Government and Social Care Funding

"I am sorry—I will not, because I do not have very much time, and I have a lot to get through.

We cannot artificially separate these two pots of funding. Instead, we must link them together more holistically. The NHS long-term plan includes some welcome focuses on carers—perhaps the hon. …..."
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View all Baroness Maclean of Redditch (Con - Life peer) contributions to the debate on: Local Government and Social Care Funding
Speech in Commons Chamber - Tue 05 Feb 2019
Local Government Finance

"It is a pleasure to follow the hon. Member for Redcar (Anna Turley).

I rise to put on record my thanks to the Minister and the Department for the rise in core spending power in my constituency, and to highlight the urgent need to finish the funding review, as I …..."
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Speech in Commons Chamber - Fri 23 Nov 2018
Parking (Code of Practice) Bill

"Thank you for calling me, Madam Deputy Speaker. I apologise for that slight note of surprise.

It is a real pleasure to follow the hon. Member for Denton and Reddish (Andrew Gwynne). He is absolutely right: this is a fantastic opportunity for us all to agree on something. I am …..."
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View all Baroness Maclean of Redditch (Con - Life peer) contributions to the debate on: Parking (Code of Practice) Bill