Asked by: Alex Sobel (Labour (Co-op) - Leeds Central and Headingley)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities,, what steps his Department plans to take to ensure that the Government’s reforms to the planning system improve housing options for older people, including housing-with-care.
Answered by Christopher Pincher
This Government is committed to the provision of homes for older people which includes housing-with-care. As set out in our National Planning Policy Framework, local authorities should already assess the types of specialist housing needed for older people and reflect this in their local planning policies.
As a new Secretary of State in a new department, the minister is taking time to review the departmental programmes and engage with key stakeholders. The Government's consultation response will be published.
In the meantime, we continue to work closely with the older people's housing sector and across Government to look at how we can further support its growth.
Asked by: Alex Sobel (Labour (Co-op) - Leeds Central and Headingley)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps his Department is taking to help local authorities tackle noise complaints and antisocial behaviour in Yorkshire and the Humber.
Answered by Christopher Pincher
The Social Housing White Paper sets out proposals to tackle anti-social behaviour by highlighting the responsibilities that police, local authorities and social landlords have in tackling anti-social behaviour. We have published guidance on Gov.uk clarifying the role local authorities and landlords have in tackling anti-social behaviour, including noise complaints and have disseminated this through bodies such as the Local Government Association.
We are preparing further work on anti-social behaviour to consider the evidence around the most common causes of anti-social behaviour affecting social housing residents, and to identify and raise awareness of the most effective interventions available to landlords - including their local authority partners - to address these issues.
Asked by: Alex Sobel (Labour (Co-op) - Leeds Central and Headingley)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to students who (a) reach the end of their tenancies and (b) are required to self-isolate as a result of covid-19, what rights those students have to (i) not be evicted after the end of the tenancy and (ii) move to temporary university accommodation if a landlord requires them to vacate their property for new tenants.
Answered by Eddie Hughes
We strongly urge accommodation providers to be flexible in extending tenancies and delaying moves if tenants are isolating due to Covid-19.
However, under The Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (Self-Isolation) (England) if someone is legally obliged to move, they are allowed to do so even if isolating.
We know that some universities have temporary accommodation available to those if they are required to move. Students should let their accommodation provider know immediately if they are required to isolate and speak to the university accommodation office.
Asked by: Alex Sobel (Labour (Co-op) - Leeds Central and Headingley)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether he plans to change heritage classifications in planning law.
Answered by Christopher Pincher
In January, the Government announced new planning protections to ensure historic statues, monuments and plaques are 'retained and explained' for future generations. Following changes to the demolition permitted development right, the removal of these historic assets, whether listed or not, now requires listed building consent or planning permission. If a council intends to grant permission for the removal of a particular asset, the Secretary of State will be notified in order to decide whether to call in the decision for determination.
More generally, the Planning White Paper, Planning for the Future, emphasised the critical role the planning system has played in ensuring the historic buildings and areas we cherish are conserved and, where appropriate, enhanced by development. As we develop our proposals for the Planning Bill following consultation on the White Paper proposals, we want to build on the strong protections in the existing framework, to ensure there is no loss of protection for the historic environment. We will publish our response to the White Paper consultation prior to the Bill's introduction in Autumn.
Asked by: Alex Sobel (Labour (Co-op) - Leeds Central and Headingley)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether he plans to change heritage management rules in planning law.
Answered by Christopher Pincher
In January, the Government announced new planning protections to ensure historic statues, monuments and plaques are 'retained and explained' for future generations. Following changes to the demolition permitted development right, the removal of these historic assets, whether listed or not, now requires listed building consent or planning permission. If a council intends to grant permission for the removal of a particular asset, the Secretary of State will be notified in order to decide whether to call in the decision for determination.
More generally, the Planning White Paper, Planning for the Future, emphasised the critical role the planning system has played in ensuring the historic buildings and areas we cherish are conserved and, where appropriate, enhanced by development. As we develop our proposals for the Planning Bill following consultation on the White Paper proposals, we want to build on the strong protections in the existing framework, to ensure there is no loss of protection for the historic environment. We will publish our response to the White Paper consultation prior to the Bill's introduction in Autumn.
Asked by: Alex Sobel (Labour (Co-op) - Leeds Central and Headingley)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether he has plans to include provisions on contested heritage in his proposals for planning reform.
Answered by Christopher Pincher
In January, the Government announced new planning protections to ensure historic statues, monuments and plaques are 'retained and explained' for future generations. Following changes to the demolition permitted development right, the removal of these historic assets, whether listed or not, now requires listed building consent or planning permission. If a council intends to grant permission for the removal of a particular asset, the Secretary of State will be notified in order to decide whether to call in the decision for determination.
More generally, the Planning White Paper, Planning for the Future, emphasised the critical role the planning system has played in ensuring the historic buildings and areas we cherish are conserved and, where appropriate, enhanced by development. As we develop our proposals for the Planning Bill following consultation on the White Paper proposals, we want to build on the strong protections in the existing framework, to ensure there is no loss of protection for the historic environment. We will publish our response to the White Paper consultation prior to the Bill's introduction in Autumn.
Asked by: Alex Sobel (Labour (Co-op) - Leeds Central and Headingley)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of extending powers available to local authorities to help deliver the Government's target of net zero emissions by 2050.
Answered by Christopher Pincher
All levels of Government have a role to play in meeting our net zero goal, and local authorities are rising to this challenge. In August MHCLG published the Planning for the Future consultation, which aims to ensure the planning system supports our efforts to combat climate change, by ensuring the National Planning Policy Framework targets those areas where a reformed planning system can most effectively address climate change mitigation and adaptation and facilitate environmental improvements.
Last month the Government announced plans for a Net Zero Strategy that will set out our vision for transitioning to a net zero economy by 2050, making the most of new growth and employment opportunities across the UK. Councils are well positioned to align local needs, opportunities and resources to deliver strategic interventions at all scales. We are working closely with BEIS on the development of the Net Zero strategy, to ensure it reflects this unique role.
We are also working with the Committee on Climate Change, as well as local authorities and other expert organisations to determine what steps can be taken to help local authorities ensure that local delivery matches local ambition.