Asked by: Edward Morello (Liberal Democrat - West Dorset)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps her Department is taking to reduce low room occupancy rates in West Dorset constituency.
Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
Under-occupation is recorded in the English Housing Survey’s annual statistics.
The choice to sell a home is ultimately one for the owner of the property to make.
However, the government are taking steps to modernise the home buying and selling process, including through digital innovation.
As set out in the Written Ministerial Statement I made on 26 November 2024 (HCWS249), we are also giving careful consideration to the recommendations from the Older People’s Housing Taskforce report.
Asked by: Edward Morello (Liberal Democrat - West Dorset)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether she plans to make water companies statutory consultees in the planning system.
Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
As the hon. Member is aware, the government does not plan to make water companies statutory consultees in the planning system.
Asked by: Edward Morello (Liberal Democrat - West Dorset)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what estimate her Department has made of the cost to developers of nutrient neutrality credits; and what assessment she has made of the potential impact of this on housing supply in impacted catchment areas.
Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
Through the Local Nutrient Mitigation Fund, the government has provided £110m in direct grant funding to local planning authorities to deliver high quality, locally led nutrient mitigation schemes. This funding is distinct from the £30m provided to Natural England to fund the Nutrient Mitigation Scheme.
The Local Nutrient Mitigation Fund will be recycled locally until nutrient mitigation is no longer needed, at which point it will be used for measures to help restore the relevant Habitats sites. This will enable sustainable development, unlocking stalled housing delivery whilst delivering benefits like enhanced public access to nature and supporting our commitment to leave our environment in a better state than we found it.
The cost of credits – either through the LNMF or private providers – will vary by area depending on factors such as the cost of land and the cost of delivery relevant mitigation measures.
Asked by: Edward Morello (Liberal Democrat - West Dorset)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps her Department is taking to help reduce the time taken for local plan adoption when linked to the availability of nutrient neutrality credits.
Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
Local planning authorities can only adopt a local development plan that is sound.
That requires them to be consistent with national planning policy, be supported by evidence, and take the views of local people into account.
If nutrient neutrality credits are available as supporting evidence for the inclusion of a site allocation proposed in an emerging plan this can reduce the risk of delays when the plan is examined.
Asked by: Edward Morello (Liberal Democrat - West Dorset)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps her Department is taking to support the inclusion of asset management plans in standard pre-sale agreements for residential properties.
Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
Providing essential information upfront during the home buying and selling process is important in supporting potential buyers to make informed decisions about whether a property is suitable for them.
There is already a requirement under the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024 that any property information that would help a prospective homebuyer to make an informed decision is not hidden or omitted.
On 9 February, the government announced action to improve the availability of property information. Improving access to key home buying and selling data will help transactions run more smoothly by ensuring all parties are able to access the information they need at the right time.
We recognise the benefits to leaseholders of Asset Management Plans. As per my Written Ministerial Statement of 21 November 2024 (HCWS2440), the government will consult on new reforms to the section 20 ‘major works’ procedure that leaseholders must go through when they face large bills for such works.
We continue to work with stakeholders across industry, government, and the public sector to understand the most effective way of supporting buyers to make the right decisions.
Asked by: Edward Morello (Liberal Democrat - West Dorset)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether she plans to introduce regulations requiring the disclosure of future maintenance liabilities through asset management plans during property transactions.
Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
Providing essential information upfront during the home buying and selling process is important in supporting potential buyers to make informed decisions about whether a property is suitable for them.
There is already a requirement under the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024 that any property information that would help a prospective homebuyer to make an informed decision is not hidden or omitted.
On 9 February, the government announced action to improve the availability of property information. Improving access to key home buying and selling data will help transactions run more smoothly by ensuring all parties are able to access the information they need at the right time.
We recognise the benefits to leaseholders of Asset Management Plans. As per my Written Ministerial Statement of 21 November 2024 (HCWS2440), the government will consult on new reforms to the section 20 ‘major works’ procedure that leaseholders must go through when they face large bills for such works.
We continue to work with stakeholders across industry, government, and the public sector to understand the most effective way of supporting buyers to make the right decisions.
Asked by: Edward Morello (Liberal Democrat - West Dorset)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps her Department is taking to help increase the supply of nutrient neutrality credits for housing development in West Dorset constituency.
Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
In December 2023, the previous government awarded Dorset council £4.63m in Round 1 of the Local Nutrient Mitigation Fund to support the delivery of local nutrient mitigation schemes that would provide mitigation and unblock stalled development.
The present government awarded Poole Harbour a further £100,000 in Nutrient Support Funding in Autumn 2024.
These funds are intended to be used and recycled locally in a way which helps to unlock housing while mitigating the effects of nutrient pollution.
The government has not made an assessment of the potential impact of the scheme on affordability.
Asked by: Edward Morello (Liberal Democrat - West Dorset)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment her Department has made of the adequacy of the availability of nutrient neutrality credits in the Poole Harbour catchment area.
Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
In December 2023, the previous government awarded Dorset council £4.63m in Round 1 of the Local Nutrient Mitigation Fund to support the delivery of local nutrient mitigation schemes that would provide mitigation and unblock stalled development.
The present government awarded Poole Harbour a further £100,000 in Nutrient Support Funding in Autumn 2024.
These funds are intended to be used and recycled locally in a way which helps to unlock housing while mitigating the effects of nutrient pollution.
The government has not made an assessment of the potential impact of the scheme on affordability.
Asked by: Edward Morello (Liberal Democrat - West Dorset)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if she will provide additional support to Dorset Council to help develop local nutrient mitigation schemes.
Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
In December 2023, the previous government awarded Dorset council £4.63m in Round 1 of the Local Nutrient Mitigation Fund to support the delivery of local nutrient mitigation schemes that would provide mitigation and unblock stalled development.
The present government awarded Poole Harbour a further £100,000 in Nutrient Support Funding in Autumn 2024.
These funds are intended to be used and recycled locally in a way which helps to unlock housing while mitigating the effects of nutrient pollution.
The government has not made an assessment of the potential impact of the scheme on affordability.
Asked by: Edward Morello (Liberal Democrat - West Dorset)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment her Department has made of the impact of nutrient neutrality credit costs on the affordability of new housing developments.
Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
In December 2023, the previous government awarded Dorset council £4.63m in Round 1 of the Local Nutrient Mitigation Fund to support the delivery of local nutrient mitigation schemes that would provide mitigation and unblock stalled development.
The present government awarded Poole Harbour a further £100,000 in Nutrient Support Funding in Autumn 2024.
These funds are intended to be used and recycled locally in a way which helps to unlock housing while mitigating the effects of nutrient pollution.
The government has not made an assessment of the potential impact of the scheme on affordability.