Asked by: Nigel Evans (Conservative - Ribble Valley)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to his Department's consultation entitled Planning reform: supporting the high street and increasing the delivery of new homes, published in October 2018, if he will take steps to ensure the potential expansion of permitted development rights does not lead to a loss of affordable housing to (a) rent and (b) buy.
Answered by Kit Malthouse
Our recent consultation, Planning Reform: Supporting the high street and increasing delivery of new homes set out a package of proposals to simplify and speed up the planning system, make effective use of land, help high streets to adapt and diversify and deliver more homes through new permitted development rights and changes to the Use Classes Order.
We are currently considering all of the responses received to the consultation. Decisions will be taken in due course on how the consultation proposals will be taken forward in light of these.
Asked by: Nigel Evans (Conservative - Ribble Valley)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to his Department's consultation entitled Planning reform: supporting the high street and increasing the delivery of new homes, published in October 2018, what steps he is taking to ensure that an expansion of permitted development rights does not cause over-development in areas.
Answered by Kit Malthouse
Our recent consultation, Planning Reform: Supporting the high street and increasing delivery of new homes set out a package of proposals to simplify and speed up the planning system, make effective use of land, help high streets to adapt and diversify and deliver more homes through new permitted development rights and changes to the Use Classes Order.
We are currently considering all of the responses received to the consultation. Decisions will be taken in due course on how the consultation proposals will be taken forward in light of these.
Asked by: Nigel Evans (Conservative - Ribble Valley)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to his Department's consultation entitled Planning reform: supporting the high street and increasing the delivery of new homes, published in October 2018, if he will make an estimate of the potential number of affordable homes for renting or buying that would be provided by an expansion of permitted development rights.
Answered by Kit Malthouse
Our recent consultation, Planning Reform: Supporting the high street and increasing delivery of new homes set out a package of proposals to simplify and speed up the planning system, make effective use of land, help high streets to adapt and diversify and deliver more homes through new permitted development rights and changes to the Use Classes Order.
We are currently considering all of the responses received to the consultation. Decisions will be taken in due course on how the consultation proposals will be taken forward in light of these.
Asked by: Nigel Evans (Conservative - Ribble Valley)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to his Department's consultation entitled Planning reform: supporting the high street and increasing the delivery of new homes, published in October 2018, if he will take steps to ensure the proposals from that consultation for expanding permitted development rights also support the Government’s commitment to better design as outlined in the terms of reference of the Building Better, Building Beautiful Commission.
Answered by Kit Malthouse
Our recent consultation, Planning Reform: Supporting the high street and increasing delivery of new homes set out a package of proposals to simplify and speed up the planning system, make effective use of land, help high streets to adapt and diversify and deliver more homes through new permitted development rights and changes to the Use Classes Order.
We are currently considering all of the responses received to the consultation. Decisions will be taken in due course on how the consultation proposals will be taken forward in light of these.
Asked by: Nigel Evans (Conservative - Ribble Valley)
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 make an estimate of the number of people with mental health problems that are on social housing waiting lists.
Answered by Heather Wheeler
I refer my hon Friend to the answer I gave on 17 October 2018 to question UIN 177200.
Asked by: Nigel Evans (Conservative - Ribble Valley)
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 effectiveness of the National Planning Policy Framework in providing infrastructure in areas where there are new developments.
Answered by Kit Malthouse
Research published by my department in March 2018 showed that section 106 planning obligations and the Community Infrastructure Levy raised £6 billion in 2016/17 towards affordable housing and infrastructure.
We have set out a new approach to viability assessment in the revised National Planning Policy Framework, published in July 2018. These reforms will mean that developers know the contributions that they are expected to make and local communities are clear about the infrastructure and affordable housing they will get.
The Government will monitor and evaluate the reforms brought forward in the NPPF to ensure they are having the intended effect.
Asked by: Nigel Evans (Conservative - Ribble Valley)
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 suitability of the National Planning Policy Framework in rural areas, such as the Ribble Valley.
Answered by Kit Malthouse
As part of the preparation of the revised National Planning Policy Framework, representations were received from local authorities and neighbourhood planning groups across the country, as well as groups that have a focus on countryside issues.
Officials also proactively reached out to communities through a series of regional events run by the Planning Advisory Service and the Royal Town Planning Institute.
The Framework confirms that in rural areas, planning policies and decisions should be responsive to local circumstances and support housing developments that reflect local needs.
It is for local authorities to consider how to implement the National Planning Policy Framework in their area through the plan-making process.
Asked by: Nigel Evans (Conservative - Ribble Valley)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what plans his Department has to increase penalties for building houses on flood-plains.
Answered by Lord Barwell
The Government has been clear that all local planning authorities are expected to follow the strict tests set out in the National Planning Policy Framework to protect people and property from flooding. The Framework is clear that inappropriate development in areas at risk of flooding should be avoided by directing development away from areas at highest risk. Where development is necessary in a flood risk area, it must be demonstrated that it will be safe, without increasing flood risk elsewhere, and be appropriately flood resilient and resistant. We are clear in our planning guidance supporting the Framework that where these tests are not met, new development should not be allowed.
Local planning authorities have a wide range of powers to tackle breaches of planning control. Failure to comply with a planning condition would normally be dealt with by serving a breach of condition notice, or an enforcement notice requiring the recipient to remedy the breach. The penalty for failing to comply with a breach of condition notice is a fine of up to £2,500 on summary conviction. For failure to comply with an enforcement notice, it is an unlimited fine. Full details of local authority’s enforcement powers can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/ensuring-effective-enforcement
Asked by: Nigel Evans (Conservative - Ribble Valley)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what powers local authorities have to enforce flood planning conditions on new houses being built.
Answered by Lord Barwell
Local planning authorities have a wide range of powers to tackle breaches of planning control. Failure to comply with a planning condition would normally be dealt with by serving a breach of condition notice or an enforcement notice requiring the recipient to remedy the breach. Full details of their powers can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/ensuring-effective-enforcement.
Asked by: Nigel Evans (Conservative - Ribble Valley)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what powers local authorities have to enforce planning conditions placed on housing developments.
Answered by Lord Barwell
Local planning authorities have a wide range of powers to tackle breaches of planning control. Failure to comply with a planning condition would normally be dealt with by serving a breach of condition notice or an enforcement notice requiring the recipient to remedy the breach. Full details of their powers can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/ensuring-effective-enforcement.