Asked by: Justin Tomlinson (Conservative - North Swindon)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, if his Department will make an assessment of the impact of changes to permitted development rights for converting commercial buildings to residential use on local high streets; and if he will publish the findings of that assessment.
Answered by Baroness Maclean of Redditch
Permitted development rights for change of use to residential are making an important contribution to the delivery of new homes across the country, many of which may not have otherwise come forward through the planning system. We will continue to keep the rights under review.
Asked by: Justin Tomlinson (Conservative - North Swindon)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, if he will take steps to create additional guidance on accessible play equipment in the National Model Design Code, published on 20 July 2021.
Answered by Baroness Maclean of Redditch
The Government has set a clear vision to improve the everyday lives of disabled people as set out in the National Disability Strategy, to ensure that disability is not a barrier to people living full, independent lives where they can reach their full potential.
The Government’s guidance on creating well-designed places – the National Design Guide and the National Model Design Code are both part of the suite of national planning practice guidance that supports the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF).
The NPPF encourages the creation of places that are safe, inclusive and accessible and which promote health and well-being. In support of this, the National Model Design Code encourages the design of children's play areas to be inclusive and accessible. This document is intended to provide broad design principles. It is not within the scope of the document to provide expert advice on accessible play equipment.
There is independent and voluntary best practice guidance in the form of British and European standards on inclusive built environments including play areas and playgrounds, and for children’s play equipment. BS 8300-1:2018, BS EN 17210:2021 and BS EN 1176:2017. Their status is independent of government guidance. Local authorities can choose to use these voluntary best practice standards.
Asked by: Justin Tomlinson (Conservative - North Swindon)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, what progress his Department has made on building affordable homes.
Answered by Lee Rowley
The provision of affordable housing is a key element of the Government's plan to build more homes, tackle homelessness and provide aspiring homeowners with a step onto the housing ladder. The Government has committed an £11.5 billion taxpayer-funded grant towards the supply of new affordable homes.
Since 2010, we have delivered over 598,900 new affordable homes, including over 419,200 affordable homes for rent, of which, over 157,200 homes are for social rent’.
Asked by: Justin Tomlinson (Conservative - North Swindon)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, how many people in Swindon have taken part in the Help to Buy scheme.
Answered by Lee Rowley
Help to Buy Equity Loan has helped over 361,000 households buy a new-build home from its launch on 1 April 2013 until the end of March 2022. There have been 2,593 completions using the Help to Buy Equity Loan scheme in Swindon since 1 April 2013.
Asked by: Justin Tomlinson (Conservative - North Swindon)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, how many people have taken part in the Help to Buy scheme.
Answered by Lee Rowley
Equity Loan supports the Government's commitment to increasing home ownership. The scheme offers an equity loan of up to 20% (up to 40% in London) of the purchase price of a new-build home.
Equity Loan has helped over 361,000 households buy a new-build home from its launch in spring 2013 until the end of March 2022.
Asked by: Justin Tomlinson (Conservative - North Swindon)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, what steps his Department is taking to assess the impact of the guidance entitled National Model Design Code: Part 2 Guidance Notes, published by his Department in June 2021, on the creation of play friendly spaces that are accessible and inclusive for all.
Answered by Lee Rowley
The Government's National Planning Policy Framework encourages the creation of places that are safe, inclusive and accessible and which promote health and well-being. In support of this, the National Model Design Code, which guides the production of local design codes, encourages the design of children's play areas to be inclusive and accessible.
Local planning authorities are responsible for the achievement of these objectives locally and can influence the development of play areas through their local planning policies and decisions.
We aim to review the national planning and design guidance periodically, in consultation with relevant organisations.
The department does not hold data on the number and proportion of playgrounds that are accessible to disabled children in England.
Asked by: Justin Tomlinson (Conservative - North Swindon)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, with reference to the guidance entitled National Model Design Code: Part 2 Guidance Notes, published by his Department in June 2021, how his Department defines the terms (a) inclusive and (b) accessible in the context of the creation of play friendly spaces that are accessible and inclusive for all.
Answered by Lee Rowley
The Government's National Planning Policy Framework encourages the creation of places that are safe, inclusive and accessible and which promote health and well-being. In support of this, the National Model Design Code, which guides the production of local design codes, encourages the design of children's play areas to be inclusive and accessible.
Local planning authorities are responsible for the achievement of these objectives locally and can influence the development of play areas through their local planning policies and decisions.
We aim to review the national planning and design guidance periodically, in consultation with relevant organisations.
The department does not hold data on the number and proportion of playgrounds that are accessible to disabled children in England.
Asked by: Justin Tomlinson (Conservative - North Swindon)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of working with representatives of parents of disabled children to develop new guidance for local authorities on the creation of (a) accessible and (b) inclusive playgrounds.
Answered by Lee Rowley
The Government's National Planning Policy Framework encourages the creation of places that are safe, inclusive and accessible and which promote health and well-being. In support of this, the National Model Design Code, which guides the production of local design codes, encourages the design of children's play areas to be inclusive and accessible.
Local planning authorities are responsible for the achievement of these objectives locally and can influence the development of play areas through their local planning policies and decisions.
We aim to review the national planning and design guidance periodically, in consultation with relevant organisations.
The department does not hold data on the number and proportion of playgrounds that are accessible to disabled children in England.
Asked by: Justin Tomlinson (Conservative - North Swindon)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, what recent assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of the guidance entitled National Model Design Code: Part 2 Guidance Notes, published by his Department in June 2021, on the creation of inclusive and accessible playgrounds.
Answered by Lee Rowley
The Government's National Planning Policy Framework encourages the creation of places that are safe, inclusive and accessible and which promote health and well-being. In support of this, the National Model Design Code, which guides the production of local design codes, encourages the design of children's play areas to be inclusive and accessible.
Local planning authorities are responsible for the achievement of these objectives locally and can influence the development of play areas through their local planning policies and decisions.
We aim to review the national planning and design guidance periodically, in consultation with relevant organisations.
The department does not hold data on the number and proportion of playgrounds that are accessible to disabled children in England.