Written Question
Tuesday 26th July 2022
Asked by:
Helen Whately (Conservative - Faversham and Mid Kent)
Question
to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of increasing housing density for the purposes of reducing the requirement to build new homes on greenfield sites.
Answered by Marcus Jones
This Government strongly encourages the efficient and effective use of land. Our National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) already sets out that planning policies and decisions should promote an effective use of land and make as much use as possible of previously-developed land in meeting the need for homes and other uses, while safeguarding and improving the environment, and ensuring safe and healthy living conditions.
The NPPF sets out that local plans should establish density standards for city and town centres which seek a significant uplift in density in those areas. Furthermore the NPPF is clear that where there is a shortage of land for meeting housing needs, it is especially important that planning policies and decisions avoid homes being built at low densities and that developments make optimal use of the potential of each site.
We have introduced a number of measures to support increased density including new permitted development rights to allow more buildings to be extended upwards to create new homes, and to make it easier for existing buildings to be converted to residential use. This will further support residential densification while avoiding the need to build on other types of land.
We are also bringing forward further reforms to support density through the Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill, including a duty for local authorities to produce design codes to help shape the design of their area, giving greater certainty to communities and developers. In addition ‘Street Votes’ will incentivise communities to consider the potential for development and support a gentle increase in densities through well-designed and locally supported proposals.
Speech in Commons Chamber - Mon 01 Nov 2021
Budget Resolutions
"It is a pleasure to close this debate. I thank the many right hon. and hon. Members who have spoken today for their speeches. The number who have spoken and the passion of their speeches demonstrates just how much we want levelling up, in this Chamber and in the constituencies …..."Helen Whately - View Speech
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Speech in Commons Chamber - Mon 01 Nov 2021
Budget Resolutions
"I am sure that the hon. Lady well knows, having followed this debate and recent conversations about the Budget, that constituencies and Members on the Conservative Benches and on the Opposition Benches have received funding from the levelling-up fund, including Members of the Opposition Front Bench. I encourage the hon. …..."Helen Whately - View Speech
View all Helen Whately (Con - Faversham and Mid Kent) contributions to the debate on: Budget Resolutions
Speech in Commons Chamber - Mon 01 Nov 2021
Budget Resolutions
"I am delighted to pick up on the hon. Member’s comments. I am surprised that he did not welcome the level of funding—the highest ever block grant—that Scotland is receiving as part of the Budget and spending review. We are making much-needed reforms to the alcohol duty system, which has …..."Helen Whately - View Speech
View all Helen Whately (Con - Faversham and Mid Kent) contributions to the debate on: Budget Resolutions
Speech in Commons Chamber - Mon 01 Nov 2021
Budget Resolutions
"I will make a bit more progress.
I heard some Opposition Members say that rich people are not paying in enough. Well, I ask them to look at the Government’s distribution analysis and the analysis of the Resolution Foundation. These analyses say that the Government’s policies boost incomes for those …..."Helen Whately - View Speech
View all Helen Whately (Con - Faversham and Mid Kent) contributions to the debate on: Budget Resolutions
Speech in Commons Chamber - Mon 01 Nov 2021
Budget Resolutions
"I stand by what I said: the Government’s distribution analysis and the Resolution Foundation analysis say that this Budget and spending review boost the incomes of those on the lowest incomes, and that those who are better off are paying in the most. The crucial point about the changes to …..."Helen Whately - View Speech
View all Helen Whately (Con - Faversham and Mid Kent) contributions to the debate on: Budget Resolutions
Speech in Commons Chamber - Mon 01 Nov 2021
Budget Resolutions
"I would like to quickly correct the record. My apologies: I wanted to say that, by the end of this Parliament, we on the Conservative Benches want taxes to be going down. [Hon. Members: “Hear, hear!”] I thank my hon. Friends for their support...."Helen Whately - View Speech
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Speech in Commons Chamber - Mon 01 Nov 2021
Budget Resolutions
"I would like to sum up. In this Budget and spending review, we are seizing the moment to end historical disparities in education, health and employment opportunities, so that in the years ahead, more people throughout this United Kingdom will have the opportunity to live healthier, happier lives, and to …..."Helen Whately - View Speech
View all Helen Whately (Con - Faversham and Mid Kent) contributions to the debate on: Budget Resolutions
Written Question
Thursday 20th June 2019
Asked by:
Helen Whately (Conservative - Faversham and Mid Kent)
Question
to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, when he plans to place on a statutory basis the good practice guidance to local authorities in relation to their use of powers on unauthorised encampments.
Answered by Kit Malthouse
As stated in the Government response to the consultation on powers for dealing with unauthorised development and encampments , we will in due course create a power to place new guidance on a statutory footing.
Written Question
Thursday 20th June 2019
Asked by:
Helen Whately (Conservative - Faversham and Mid Kent)
Question
to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what the timetable is for publishing the details of the £1.5 million fund for local authorities to enforce planning rules and tackle unauthorised development; how local authorities will be able to bid for that funding; and when that funding will be allocated.
Answered by Kit Malthouse
We will announce further details of the £1.5 million fund for planning enforcement over the summer.