Asked by: Priti Patel (Conservative - Witham)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what processes his Department has put in place to (a) monitor, (b) collate cost information on, (c) review and (d) respond to requests to amend or revoke regulations introduced by his Department.
Answered by Jake Berry
The changes to regulations affecting business during the 2010-15 Parliament are recorded in Statements of New Regulation that were published every six months. These are available on https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/one-in-two-out-statement-of-new-regulation.
For the 2015-17 Parliament, the Government will shortly publish its final report on the savings to business delivered during that Parliament.
For the current Parliament, the Government is committed to maintaining a proportionate approach to regulation to enable business growth while maintaining public protections. This will be monitored through the target that the Government is required to set under the Small Business, Enterprise and Employment Act 2015.
Asked by: Priti Patel (Conservative - Witham)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what the title was of each set of regulations introduced by his Department in each month since May 2010; which of those regulations have been (a) subject to the (i) one in one out and (ii) one in two out procedure and (b) (i) revoked and (ii) amended; and what the net cost to (A) the public purse; and (B) business of those regulations is.
Answered by Jake Berry
The changes to regulations affecting business during the 2010-15 Parliament are recorded in Statements of New Regulation that were published every six months. These are available on https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/one-in-two-out-statement-of-new-regulation.
For the 2015-17 Parliament, the Government will shortly publish its final report on the savings to business delivered during that Parliament.
For the current Parliament, the Government is committed to maintaining a proportionate approach to regulation to enable business growth while maintaining public protections. This will be monitored through the target that the Government is required to set under the Small Business, Enterprise and Employment Act 2015.
Asked by: Priti Patel (Conservative - Witham)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, which EU (a) Directives, (b) Regulations and (c) other legislation affecting his Department he is planning to propose the (i) revocation and (ii) amendment of after the UK leaves the EU.
Answered by Jake Berry
The European Union (Withdrawal) Bill will retain EU law as it applies in the UK on exit day.
We expect between 800 and 1000 statutory instruments will be required across Government to correct this retained EU law to ensure the statute book functions appropriately outside the EU. All Departments are engaged in this process.
Once we leave the EU, we will make our own laws. As we leave the EU, the Government’s EU exit legislative programme is designed to cater for the full range of negotiated and non-negotiated outcomes.
Asked by: Priti Patel (Conservative - Witham)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what consideration (a) local planning authorities and (b) planning inspectors should give to the scheduled building of new infrastructure beyond the five-year period for the supply of deliverable housing sites when determining planning applications in circumstances where a local planning authority (a) can and (b) cannot demonstrate a five-year supply of deliverable sites.
Answered by Alok Sharma - COP26 President (Cabinet Office)
The starting point for decisions by local planning authorities and planning inspectors will be the approved development plan for the area taking into account relevant material considerations, including national planning policy and guidance. All housing allocations and infrastructure plans need to be deliverable.
Where a Local Planning Authority (LPA) has not delivered sufficient completions in previous years against its housing requirement this will result in a shortfall of supply against the five year land supply. The preferred approach (as set out in Planning Guidance) to addressing past shortfalls is to ensure they are met within a five year period (known as the Sedgefield method), but LPAs have argued at both examinations and appeals that due to their particular circumstances they need to meet the past shortfalls over the whole plan period. Inspectors have considered the most appropriate approach on a case by case basis.
To ensure that the guidance on five year land supply is suitably clear, transparent and comprehensive, the Government committed in the Housing White Paper to issue new guidance.
Asked by: Priti Patel (Conservative - Witham)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, whether a (a) local planning authority and (b) planning inspector has a duty to consider as a material planning consideration (i) the delivery of new housing during the course of a Local Plan period of fifteen years and (ii) each five-year period of the supply of housing sites for new housing when considering the impact and weighting of a local authority's position in relation to their delivery of a five-year supply of housing sites.
Answered by Alok Sharma - COP26 President (Cabinet Office)
The starting point for decisions by local planning authorities and planning inspectors will be the approved development plan for the area taking into account relevant material considerations, including national planning policy and guidance. All housing allocations and infrastructure plans need to be deliverable.
Where a Local Planning Authority (LPA) has not delivered sufficient completions in previous years against its housing requirement this will result in a shortfall of supply against the five year land supply. The preferred approach (as set out in Planning Guidance) to addressing past shortfalls is to ensure they are met within a five year period (known as the Sedgefield method), but LPAs have argued at both examinations and appeals that due to their particular circumstances they need to meet the past shortfalls over the whole plan period. Inspectors have considered the most appropriate approach on a case by case basis.
To ensure that the guidance on five year land supply is suitably clear, transparent and comprehensive, the Government committed in the Housing White Paper to issue new guidance.
Asked by: Priti Patel (Conservative - Witham)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, whether a local planning authority not able to demonstrate a five-year supply of deliverable housing sites can deliver the shortfall in future years in the Local Plan period.
Answered by Alok Sharma - COP26 President (Cabinet Office)
The starting point for decisions by local planning authorities and planning inspectors will be the approved development plan for the area taking into account relevant material considerations, including national planning policy and guidance. All housing allocations and infrastructure plans need to be deliverable.
Where a Local Planning Authority (LPA) has not delivered sufficient completions in previous years against its housing requirement this will result in a shortfall of supply against the five year land supply. The preferred approach (as set out in Planning Guidance) to addressing past shortfalls is to ensure they are met within a five year period (known as the Sedgefield method), but LPAs have argued at both examinations and appeals that due to their particular circumstances they need to meet the past shortfalls over the whole plan period. Inspectors have considered the most appropriate approach on a case by case basis.
To ensure that the guidance on five year land supply is suitably clear, transparent and comprehensive, the Government committed in the Housing White Paper to issue new guidance.
Asked by: Priti Patel (Conservative - Witham)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, if a (a) local planning authority, and (b) planning inspector, is able to consider as a material planning consideration, the likelihood of a local planning authority making up a shortfall identified in its five year supply of deliverable housing sites in later years in an (i) existing Local Plan; and (ii) emerging Local Plan, when determining planning application.
Answered by Alok Sharma - COP26 President (Cabinet Office)
The starting point for decisions by local planning authorities and planning inspectors will be the approved development plan for the area taking into account relevant material considerations, including national planning policy and guidance. All housing allocations and infrastructure plans need to be deliverable.
Where a Local Planning Authority (LPA) has not delivered sufficient completions in previous years against its housing requirement this will result in a shortfall of supply against the five year land supply. The preferred approach (as set out in Planning Guidance) to addressing past shortfalls is to ensure they are met within a five year period (known as the Sedgefield method), but LPAs have argued at both examinations and appeals that due to their particular circumstances they need to meet the past shortfalls over the whole plan period. Inspectors have considered the most appropriate approach on a case by case basis.
To ensure that the guidance on five year land supply is suitably clear, transparent and comprehensive, the Government committed in the Housing White Paper to issue new guidance.
Asked by: Priti Patel (Conservative - Witham)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what assessment his Department has made of the potential role of garden communities in addressing shortfalls in (a) local housing need, (b) a local authority's five-year supply of deliverable housing sites by facilitating increased development in the later years of a Local Plan period.
Answered by Alok Sharma - COP26 President (Cabinet Office)
The National Planning Policy Framework sets out (at paragraph 55) that to promote sustainable development in rural areas, housing should be located where it will enhance or maintain the vitality of rural communities. New garden communities have an important role to play in meeting local housing needs over the medium and long term.
If an area cannot demonstrate a five year land supply the relevant policies for the supply of housing should not be considered up to date. In this circumstance permission should be granted unless any adverse impacts of doing so would significantly and demonstrably outweigh the benefits. Exceptions where development should be restricted include land designated as Green Belt and Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty. The need for new or revised Planning Guidance is kept under review.
Asked by: Priti Patel (Conservative - Witham)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what policies are in place to support the protection of sites located in the countryside outside of settlement boundaries from new housing in instances where a local authority (a) can and (b) cannot demonstrate a five-year supply of deliverable sites.
Answered by Alok Sharma - COP26 President (Cabinet Office)
The National Planning Policy Framework sets out (at paragraph 55) that to promote sustainable development in rural areas, housing should be located where it will enhance or maintain the vitality of rural communities. New garden communities have an important role to play in meeting local housing needs over the medium and long term.
If an area cannot demonstrate a five year land supply the relevant policies for the supply of housing should not be considered up to date. In this circumstance permission should be granted unless any adverse impacts of doing so would significantly and demonstrably outweigh the benefits. Exceptions where development should be restricted include land designated as Green Belt and Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty. The need for new or revised Planning Guidance is kept under review.
Asked by: Priti Patel (Conservative - Witham)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, whether he plans to issue new guidance in relation to the protection of sites located in the countryside outside of settlement boundaries from new housing in instances where a local authority (a) can and (b) cannot demonstrate a five-year supply of deliverable sites.
Answered by Alok Sharma - COP26 President (Cabinet Office)
The National Planning Policy Framework sets out (at paragraph 55) that to promote sustainable development in rural areas, housing should be located where it will enhance or maintain the vitality of rural communities. New garden communities have an important role to play in meeting local housing needs over the medium and long term.
If an area cannot demonstrate a five year land supply the relevant policies for the supply of housing should not be considered up to date. In this circumstance permission should be granted unless any adverse impacts of doing so would significantly and demonstrably outweigh the benefits. Exceptions where development should be restricted include land designated as Green Belt and Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty. The need for new or revised Planning Guidance is kept under review.