Asked by: Mark Pritchard (Conservative - The Wrekin)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, when he expects the next Community Ownership Fund bidding round will open.
Answered by Jacob Young - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities)
We will announce the timings of the next bidding window in the coming weeks.
Asked by: Mark Pritchard (Conservative - The Wrekin)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, if he will introduce a low interest deposit scheme for people seeking entry-level rental accommodation in the private sector.
Answered by Jacob Young - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities)
The Government does not have plans to introduce a low interest deposit scheme for the private rented sector. Local authorities may offer deposit guarantee or bond schemes to people on low incomes or at risk of homelessness.
Councils can choose to use Discretionary Housing Payments (DHP) or Homelessness Prevention Grant funding to provide rent deposits for people in financial difficulties.
Since 2011 the government has provided almost £1.7 billion in DHP funding to local authorities and is investing over £1 billion in the Homelessness Prevention Grant over three years (2023-2025) including a £109 million top up for 2023/2024.
Asked by: Mark Pritchard (Conservative - The Wrekin)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, if he will issue guidance to local authorities on the potential fire risks of battery energy storage sites in close proximity to (a) residential and (b) commercial buildings.
Answered by Lee Rowley - Minister of State (Minister for Housing)
In August of this year the Government updated its Planning Practice Guidance to encourage battery storage developers to engage with Local Fire and Rescue Services (FRSs) before submitting a planning application, so that issues of the siting and location of Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) are dealt with before the application is made.
The guidance also encourages local planning authorities to refer to the guidance on BESS published by the National Fire Chiefs Council for consideration when determining applications and to consult with FRSs before issuing decisions.
Asked by: Mark Pritchard (Conservative - The Wrekin)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, if he will make an assessment of the potential impact of GDPR rules for sharing data between local authorities on the (a) services provided to and (b) risks faced by vulnerable people (i) during and (ii) since the covid-19 pandemic.
Answered by Simon Hoare - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities)
Authorities are responsible for managing their own data and taking the relevant actions to protect information securely. The Information Commissioner provides guidance for public bodies.
Asked by: Mark Pritchard (Conservative - The Wrekin)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, if he will hold discussions with housing developers on the potential impact of the inclusion of balconies in new apartment blocks on residents' mental health.
Answered by Rachel Maclean
The Government recognises through our national planning policy the importance that new development provides well-designed, healthy and inclusive new homes for all residents.
In support of this, our National Design Guide, which informs the preparation of local planning policies and guidance, emphasises the benefits that access to external private space, including balconies on new apartments, can bring in supporting the health and wellbeing of residents.
In addition, the National Model Design Code highlights how local councils can use design codes to consider the provision and size of balconies on new apartments in urban areas, where appropriate in the local context. Design codes can give developers greater certainty on design expectations at an early stage in the planning process.
Our national design guidance has been developed in consultation with built environment professionals, including housing developers, with the feedback collated and reviewed prior to publication.
Asked by: Mark Pritchard (Conservative - The Wrekin)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, if he will take steps with housing developers to deliver an increase in the proportion of new apartments in urban areas which are built with balconies.
Answered by Rachel Maclean
The Government recognises through our national planning policy the importance that new development provides well-designed, healthy and inclusive new homes for all residents.
In support of this, our National Design Guide, which informs the preparation of local planning policies and guidance, emphasises the benefits that access to external private space, including balconies on new apartments, can bring in supporting the health and wellbeing of residents.
In addition, the National Model Design Code highlights how local councils can use design codes to consider the provision and size of balconies on new apartments in urban areas, where appropriate in the local context. Design codes can give developers greater certainty on design expectations at an early stage in the planning process.
Our national design guidance has been developed in consultation with built environment professionals, including housing developers, with the feedback collated and reviewed prior to publication.
Asked by: Mark Pritchard (Conservative - The Wrekin)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, if he will publish his plans for extending or replacing the Homes for Ukraine scheme; and what additional support he is providing to local authorities and housing associations to help house Ukrainian refugees.
Answered by Felicity Buchan - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities)
I refer my Hon. Friend to the answer I gave to Question UIN 131373 on the 31 January 2023.
Asked by: Mark Pritchard (Conservative - The Wrekin)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, whether he has had recent discussions with local authorities on the closure of the Homes for Ukraine Scheme; and whether he will take steps to publish new proposals for housing refugees from Ukraine.
Answered by Andrew Stephenson - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
We are working closely with local councils to understand where pressures may be and are actively exploring options to find suitable long-term accommodation for the Ukrainians who are likely to stay in this country beyond their initial sponsorship period.
The updated guidance for the Homes for Ukraine guests, hosts and councils setting out all the support options available to them can be accessed here: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/homes-for-ukraine-guidance-for-councils#four-to-6-months-after-guests-have-moved-to-your-area.
Asked by: Mark Pritchard (Conservative - The Wrekin)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of supporting semi-rural market towns in (a) Shropshire and (b) Telford and Wrekin as part of the next round of levelling up funding.
Answered by Lia Nici
I am delighted to have opened the application portal for the second round of the Levelling Up Fund on the 15 July.
We recognise that what constitutes priority investment will vary across local authorities and geographies, including in rural areas of the UK.
I am keen to see a diverse range of bids come forward so that this government can continue to invest in Levelling Up urban and rural communities across the UK.
Asked by: Mark Pritchard (Conservative - The Wrekin)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, how much funding the Government has provided to help tackle homelessness and rough sleeping in (a) Shropshire and (b) Telford and Wrekin since 2018-19.
Answered by Eddie Hughes
Over £3.6 million funding has been allocated to Shropshire council to tackle homelessness and rough sleeping since 2018-19.
Furthermore, over £3.6 million funding has been allocated to Telford and Wrekin Council to tackle homelessness and rough sleeping since 2018-19.
Overall, the Government has committed over £800 million to tackle homelessness and rough sleeping this year, further demonstrating the Government's commitment to end rough sleeping this Parliament and fully enforce the Homelessness Reduction Act.