Written Question
Monday 24th April 2023
Asked by:
Esther McVey (Conservative - Tatton)
Question
to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, what steps he is taking with local government to deliver a planning policy that encourages horticultural growers to expand and modernise.
Answered by Baroness Maclean of Redditch
Planning policy encourages growth through the conversion of existing buildings and promoting well-designed new buildings, alongside the development and diversification of agricultural and other land-based rural businesses. In addition, there are a range of existing permitted development rights which allow for certain agricultural development to take place without a planning application.
The National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) is also clear that local authorities should have a positive strategy in place to promote energy from renewables. Permitted development rights currently allow for the installation of rooftop solar up to one megawatt on non-domestic properties, such as farm buildings.
A planning application is not usually required for smaller, on-farm reservoirs, where the waste material excavated to develop a reservoir remains on the farm. An existing permitted development right allows for the creation of smaller, on-farm reservoirs. The right is subject to prior approval, providing a streamlined planning process allowing for local consideration of specific planning matters set out in legislation.
In line with the practice of successive administrations, details of internal discussions are not normally disclosed.
Written Question
Wednesday 8th March 2023
Asked by:
Esther McVey (Conservative - Tatton)
Question
to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, whether his Department is taking steps to safeguard tenants in buildings where the owner would qualify for the building safety fund to repair unsafe cladding but chooses not to apply to that fund because they are seeking to sell the freehold.
Answered by Lee Rowley
Building owners have a legal responsibility to make sure their buildings are safe. Where remediation works are required, they must take appropriate action without delay. Even if the building owner is intending to sell the freehold, it is not an excuse not to progress works to make the building safe. Where the freehold is sold, the new freeholder assumes all responsibilities and liabilities of the previous freeholder.
Speech in Westminster Hall - Tue 15 Nov 2022
Housing Targets: Planning System
"I will call Gordon Henderson to move the motion and then the Minister to respond. There will not be an opportunity for the Member in charge to wind up, as is the convention for 30-minute debates...."Esther McVey - View Speech
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Speech in Westminster Hall - Tue 05 Jul 2022
Winnington Bridge Corridor
"I beg to move,
That this House has considered the Winnington Bridge corridor proposal.
It is a real pleasure to have you in the Chair, Mrs Murray, overseeing this vital debate. I thank my hon. Friend the Minister for taking the time to hear the concerns of the constituents of …..."Esther McVey - View Speech
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Speech in Westminster Hall - Tue 05 Jul 2022
Winnington Bridge Corridor
"I completely agree with the hon. Gentleman, my constituency neighbour. On the extra congestion, something else that we need to bear in mind with the current cost of living crisis and the rise in fuel prices is that people are anxious that they will be left sitting in a car …..."Esther McVey - View Speech
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Speech in Westminster Hall - Tue 18 Jan 2022
Levelling Up: East of England
"Before we begin, I remind hon. Members that they are expected to wear face coverings when they are not speaking in the debate. This is in line with current Government guidance and that of the House of Commons Commission. I also remind Members that they are asked by the House …..."Esther McVey - View Speech
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Speech in Westminster Hall - Tue 18 Jan 2022
Levelling Up: East of England
"We want to get to the Front-Bench spokespeople by just before 10.45 am—that is five minutes for the Opposition spokesman and 10 minutes for the Minister. We are well supported today, with lots of people wanting to speak, so there will be a limit of four minutes per speech...."Esther McVey - View Speech
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Speech in Westminster Hall - Tue 18 Jan 2022
Levelling Up: East of England
"I thank everybody for keeping to time, because we managed to get in everybody who wanted to speak. We will now move to the Front-Bench spokespeople...."Esther McVey - View Speech
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Speech in Westminster Hall - Tue 18 Jan 2022
Levelling Up: East of England
"I call the Minister to respond, and also mention that Peter Aldous needs a couple of minutes at the end to wind up the debate...."Esther McVey - View Speech
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Speech in Commons Chamber - Mon 10 Jan 2022
Building Safety
"I welcome the Secretary of State’s announcement today but, like others, I will be awaiting the detail, not least because I was calling for leaseholders to be protected from the cost of cladding when I was a Minister in the Department. So what has happened to change the Government’s mind?..."Esther McVey - View Speech
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