Asked by: Neil Parish (Conservative - Tiverton and Honiton)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether a local authority should consider its housing need when assessing a proposed Neighbourhood Plan and its proposals to build new local homes; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Dominic Raab
Government wants to ensure that plans start from an honest assessment of need for new homes, the draft revised National Planning Policy Framework proposes that local authorities provide designated neighbourhood planning areas with a housing requirement figure.
Our guidance is also clear that local planning authorities should provide constructive comments on an emerging neighbourhood plan before it is submitted for examination. Following examination a Local Planning Authority is required to decide whether a plan meets the basic conditions, which include whether the making of the neighbourhood plan is in general conformity with the strategic policies contained in the development plan for the area.
Asked by: Neil Parish (Conservative - Tiverton and Honiton)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the potential effect of proposals for Entry Level Exception Sites in the draft National Planning Policy Framework on Rural Exception Sites.
Answered by Dominic Raab
The Government has consulted on a proposed entry level exception site policy as part of the draft National Planning Policy Framework. This consultation closed on 10 May and responses are currently being assessed. The new National Planning Policy Framework and the Government’s response will be published in July.
Asked by: Neil Parish (Conservative - Tiverton and Honiton)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if he will ensure that the Rough Sleeping and Homelessness Reduction Taskforce considers the matter of rural homelessness.
Answered by Heather Wheeler
Tackling homelessness is a complex issue with no single solution, but we are determined to help the most vulnerable in society whether they live in towns, cities or rural areas. I can assure you that the Rough Sleeping and Homelessness Reduction Taskforce will consider homelessness in both urban and rural areas.
Asked by: Neil Parish (Conservative - Tiverton and Honiton)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, whether he plans to take steps to mitigate the adverse effects of the practice of gazumping in the housing market.
Answered by Lord Sharma
On 22 October my Department launched a Call for Evidence on the home buying and selling process. We have asked how we should best tackle gazumping, and will develop plans in the light of this feedback.