Asked by: Damian Green (Conservative - Ashford)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what consultation the Department has undertaken with providers of specialist housing for older people to inform the forthcoming Ministerial guidance in this area.
Answered by Kit Malthouse
In the revised National Planning Policy Framework, published in July 2018, we strengthened policy to create a clear expectation that all local authorities have policies in place for addressing the housing needs of older people. The number of authorities with detailed planning guidance on the provision of specialist housing for older people is not recorded.
We will publish further planning guidance, to assist councils to put these policies in place, in accordance with the Neighbourhood Planning Act commitment. We have undertaken extensive engagement in relation to the guidance, including discussions with a range of local authorities, charities and house builder representatives to identify and discuss the key issues. We will publish the guidance in due course.
Asked by: Damian Green (Conservative - Ashford)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, how many planning authorities have detailed planning guidance in place for the provision of specialist housing for older people.
Answered by Kit Malthouse
In the revised National Planning Policy Framework, published in July 2018, we strengthened policy to create a clear expectation that all local authorities have policies in place for addressing the housing needs of older people. The number of authorities with detailed planning guidance on the provision of specialist housing for older people is not recorded.
We will publish further planning guidance, to assist councils to put these policies in place, in accordance with the Neighbourhood Planning Act commitment. We have undertaken extensive engagement in relation to the guidance, including discussions with a range of local authorities, charities and house builder representatives to identify and discuss the key issues. We will publish the guidance in due course.
Asked by: Damian Green (Conservative - Ashford)
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 use the successor scheme to the New Homes Bonus to incentivise the provision of specialist housing with care for older people; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Kit Malthouse
In December 2018, Government announced the 2019-20 New Homes Bonus allocations due to be paid over next 4 years. Consideration about the overall quantum of funding available to the local government sector will be a matter for the next spending review, but Government remains fully committed to incentivising housing growth to benefit everyone and will consult widely with local authorities on how best to reward delivery most effectively.
Asked by: Damian Green (Conservative - Ashford)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps he has taken to protect local wildlife sites through the National Planning Policy Framework; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Dominic Raab
This Government is committed to the strengthened environmental protections proposed in the revised National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF), and making these clear. The revised Framework we consulted on proposed a number of measures, including by requiring local authorities to improve biodiversity and air quality, and delivering our manifesto commitment to increase the protection for ancient woodland. We engaged relevant stakeholders during the consultation, which closed on 10 May 2018, and we are currently considering responses. The revised NPPF and the Government’s response will be published this summer.
Asked by: Damian Green (Conservative - Ashford)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what estimate his Department has made of the number of new homes that will be built between March 2018 and March 2022.
Answered by Dominic Raab
1,111,000 additional homes have been delivered in England since April 2010, and housing supply increased by 217,350 net additional dwellings in 2016-17 – the highest level since 2007-08.
The reforms in our Housing White Paper, together with the measures announced at Autumn Budget, put Government on track to create, fund and drive a housing market which delivers 300,000 homes a year on average by the mid-2020s. We will meet our 2015 commitment to deliver a million homes by the end of 2020 and half a million more by the end of 2022.
Asked by: Damian Green (Conservative - Ashford)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what plans he has to increase the supply of retirement housing, and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Dominic Raab
The proposals set out in the Housing White Paper underline our commitment to do more to provide the homes we need for all in our society, including new retirement homes. The Government is strengthening national planning policy so that local planning authorities are expected to have clear policies for addressing the housing needs of older people. We will be publishing further guidance on housing for older people this summer.
In addition, the Housing, Communities and Local Government Select Committee’s report into Housing for Older People has made wide-ranging recommendations to improve this housing provision, to which the Government is currently preparing its response.
Asked by: Damian Green (Conservative - Ashford)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what projection his Department has made of the number of retirement homes which will be built between March 2018 and March 2022.
Answered by Dominic Raab
My Department does not make projections for the number of specific types of homes, including retirement homes, which are expected to be built over the next five years.
Asked by: Damian Green (Conservative - Ashford)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, when he plans to respond to the consultation document, Planning and travellers, issued in September 2014; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Brandon Lewis
The Government intends to publish its response to the consultation shortly.
Asked by: Damian Green (Conservative - Ashford)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, if he will undertake an immediate review of the effect of the 10 per cent commission charge on the sale of park home properties; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Brandon Lewis
Following a recommendation from the Communities and Local Government Select Committee in 2012 that the right of site owners to receive up to 10% commission from the sale of a home should remain in place, the Government has no plans to carry out an immediate review of the commission payable on the sale of a park home.