Asked by: John Grogan (Labour - Keighley)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what criteria the proposals for One Yorkshire devolution failed to meet.
Answered by Jake Berry
I refer the Hon Member to my answers of 19 February 2019 and 20 February 2019 in response to Question UIN 221735 and Question UIN 222008 from the Hon Member for Barnsley Central, which set out our criteria for devolution and how the One Yorkshire proposal did not meet these.
Asked by: John Grogan (Labour - Keighley)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if he will publish his Department's analysis of the case presented to Ministers for One Yorkshire devolution by local authority leaders.
Answered by Jake Berry
In reaching his decision on the One Yorkshire proposal the Secretary of State had regard to the evidence and analysis supplied by the Yorkshire leaders, which are available at https://www.westyorks-ca.gov.uk/economy/devolution/ . It was on this basis that the Secretary of State concluded that the One Yorkshire proposal met neither the criterion on functional economic area nor on there being strong and accountable governance. The proposal focuses on an area that is far greater than any of today’s functional economic city regions, and does not show how a single accountable mayor would be empowered to take tough decisions across a single area.
Asked by: John Grogan (Labour - Keighley)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether more than one bid can be submitted from each local authority area to the Future High Street Fund.
Answered by Jake Berry
Further information on the eligibility criteria for the fund will be included in supplementary guidance for local authorities which shall be published in due course.
Asked by: John Grogan (Labour - Keighley)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether Business Improvement Districts can submit bids to the Future High Street Fund.
Answered by Jake Berry
We are inviting bids from unitary authorities, metropolitan districts, London boroughs and, where there is a two-tier system, from district councils, in England. We are only accepting bids from local authorities, given their control of the strategic levers to develop the types of projects that will meet the objectives of the Fund. However, we encourage councils to work closely with stakeholders including Business Improvement Districts. Further information on the fund, including details of the nature of stakeholder support that we expect bidding authorities to demonstrate in their applications, can be found in the prospectus published online.
Asked by: John Grogan (Labour - Keighley)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the effect of the proposals for One Yorkshire devolution on the Yorkshire economy.
Answered by Jake Berry
We are considering the material provided.
The Government has already agreed a devolution deal for the Sheffield City Region. We look forward to this being implemented in full. It will bring £900 million of much needed new funding to the city region, and put power in the hands of local people.
Asked by: John Grogan (Labour - Keighley)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what safeguards will be put in place on the proposed entry level exception sites to prevent homes being resold at market rates.
Answered by Kit Malthouse
The new entry-level exception site policy, as set out in the revised National Planning Policy Framework, was published on 24 July 2018. Sites should comprise entry-level homes that offer one or more types of affordable housing, as defined within the revised National Planning Policy Framework’s glossary. Local authorities will determine applications, including where there should be provisions for the homes to remain at an affordable price for future eligible households.
Asked by: John Grogan (Labour - Keighley)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment has he made of the effect of the proposed entry level exception sites on the provision of affordable rented homes in England.
Answered by Kit Malthouse
The new entry-level exception site policy is set out in the revised National Planning Policy Framework which was published on 24 July 2018. It supports both first time buyers and those looking to rent their first home. The policy should have a positive impact on provision of affordable rented homes as sites should comprise entry-level homes offering one or more types of affordable housing, including affordable housing for rent.
Asked by: John Grogan (Labour - Keighley)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, how much brownfield land has been identified by each local authority in part (a) 1 and (b) 2 of their registers; and what the national figures are for such land in each category.
Answered by Dominic Raab
Officials are currently assessing the data contained in the published registers.
Asked by: John Grogan (Labour - Keighley)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what steps his Department is taking to collate and assess the information which was published in brownfield registers by local authorities on or before 31 December 2017.
Answered by Dominic Raab
Officials are currently assessing the data contained in the published registers.
Asked by: John Grogan (Labour - Keighley)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, how many planning applications have been called in during the last five years; and how many of those applications related at least in part to development on or adjacent to an airfield.
Answered by Dominic Raab
Since 1 January 2013 the Secretary of State has called 86 planning applications. Four involved either an existing airfield or were adjacent to an airfield.