Asked by: Caroline Nokes (Conservative - Romsey and Southampton North)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what proportion of all planning permissions granted for affordable housing units were subject to a contribution in lieu in the last 12 months for which figures are available.
Answered by Esther McVey
The Department does not hold figures splitting out the proportion of affordable housing planning permissions which are subject to a contribution in lieu. Section I13a of the Local Authority Housing Statistics includes a figure for the direct payment of financial contributions received during the financial year 2018/19 towards the provision of affordable housing from developers via planning obligations (s106 agreements).
Asked by: Caroline Nokes (Conservative - Romsey and Southampton North)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what proportion of affordable housing units were built by (a) housing associations and (b) private developers in England in the last 12 months for which figures are available.
Answered by Esther McVey
The Department collects data on affordable housing through funding sources and does not differentiate between housing associations and developers. A full breakdown of affordable housing provision by funding source is available in live table 1011c: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistical-data-sets/live-tables-on-affordable-housing-supply.
Asked by: Caroline Nokes (Conservative - Romsey and Southampton North)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what estimate he has made of the proportion of planning permissions granted that were for affordable housing units in England in the last 12 months for which figures are available.
Answered by Esther McVey
The Department publishes an estimate of the total number of housing units granted planning permission in the quarterly planning application statistics statistical release: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/planning-applications-in-england-july-to-september-2019
The statistics do not split permissions between affordable and market housing
Section I10 of the Local Authority Housing Statistics includes figures for the numbers of affordable units granted final planning permission during the year as part of developer (section 106) contributions. This will be a subset of all affordable planning permission.
https://www.gov.uk/government/statistical-data-sets/local-authority-housing-statistics-data-returns-for-2018-to-2019.
Asked by: Caroline Nokes (Conservative - Romsey and Southampton North)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what the maximum limit is on service charges that can be passed on to tenants by social housing landlords.
Answered by Esther McVey
There is no maximum limit on service charges that can be passed on to social rented tenants but they must be set in line with the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985 with service charges payable only to the extent that the costs have been reasonably incurred. The reasonableness of the service charge a social housing landlord is seeking will depend on the nature of the works required and other contributing factors.
Social housing tenants have the ability to apply to the Property Chamber of the First-tier Tribunal for a determination where they do not believe the charges are reasonable, and must be consulted when major works are being proposed.
For those in Affordable Rent properties the calculation of their gross rent includes service charges. Gross rent for these properties is capped at 80 per cent of market rent.
Asked by: Caroline Nokes (Conservative - Romsey and Southampton North)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what plans the Government has to protect social housing tenants from unreasonable service charges levied by social landlords.
Answered by Esther McVey
There is no maximum limit on service charges that can be passed on to social rented tenants but they must be set in line with the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985 with service charges payable only to the extent that the costs have been reasonably incurred. The reasonableness of the service charge a social housing landlord is seeking will depend on the nature of the works required and other contributing factors.
Social housing tenants have the ability to apply to the Property Chamber of the First-tier Tribunal for a determination where they do not believe the charges are reasonable, and must be consulted when major works are being proposed.
For those in Affordable Rent properties the calculation of their gross rent includes service charges. Gross rent for these properties is capped at 80 per cent of market rent.
Asked by: Caroline Nokes (Conservative - Romsey and Southampton North)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, pursuant to his statement of 22 June 2015, Official Report, columns 617-9, whether local people will have the final say on planning applications for solar farms.
Answered by Lord Wharton of Yarm
National planning guidance for renewable energy underlines that the views of local communities likely to be affected should be listened to and states that it is important that their planning concerns are properly heard in matters that directly affect them. Local councils working with their communities are able to set out in their Local Plan where developments for renewable energy such as solar farms should and should not take place.
Asked by: Caroline Nokes (Conservative - Romsey and Southampton North)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, with what strategic housing allocations priorities local communities must comply.
Answered by Brandon Lewis
Neighbourhood planning provides a powerful set of tools for local people to ensure that they get the right types of development for their community. It is for communities to make their own choices as to what planning matters they wish to address in their Neighbourhood Plan subject to being in general conformity with the strategic policies in their Local Plan.
Asked by: Caroline Nokes (Conservative - Romsey and Southampton North)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, whether neighbourhood plans have to meet a minimum number of homes allocated.
Answered by Brandon Lewis
Neighbourhood planning provides a powerful set of tools for local people to ensure that they get the right types of development for their community. It is for communities to make their own choices as to what planning matters they wish to address in their Neighbourhood Plan subject to being in general conformity with the strategic policies in their Local Plan.
Asked by: Caroline Nokes (Conservative - Romsey and Southampton North)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what funding is available for local authorities to support neighbourhood plans.
Answered by Brandon Lewis
The Department is committed to meeting the costs of new burdens on local authorities. Local authorities have a duty to support neighbourhood planning and are also required to fund the independent examination and referendum. Local authorities can currently claim up to £30,000 for each Neighbourhood Plan, with additional funding available in non-parished areas and designated business areas.
Asked by: Caroline Nokes (Conservative - Romsey and Southampton North)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what advice is available to communities formulating neighbourhood plans.
Answered by Brandon Lewis
A large range of advice is available to communities formulating Neighbourhood Plans. The Department commissioned a consortium led by Locality to deliver a £10.5 million support programme for 2013-15, which provides help and assistance on neighbourhood planning, including direct support from specialist planning advisors, a telephone advice service and a range of support materials on the http://www.mycommunityrights.org.uk website. Planning Aid England, which is part of this consortium, also offers some free advice on neighbourhood planning.
The Department also published planning guidance earlier this year to provide further advice on neighbourhood planning. Local planning authorities also have a duty to support neighbourhood planning by providing advice and assistance.