Written Question
Wednesday 14th July 2021
Asked by:
Steve Baker (Conservative - Wycombe)
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 impact of sales of First Homes on the sales of other forms of affordable housing including shared ownership.
Answered by Christopher Pincher
In our Equality Impact Assessment (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/975121/EQIA_First_Homes.pdf) we have published the implications we expect First Homes to have for other affordable home schemes.
Written Question
Wednesday 14th July 2021
Asked by:
Steve Baker (Conservative - Wycombe)
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 impact of First Homes on (a) developers’ ability to provide other forms of affordable housing through Section 106 obligations and (b) the total number of such affordable homes provided under a given development plan.
Answered by Christopher Pincher
In our Equality Impact Assessment (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/975121/EQIA_First_Homes.pdf) we have published the implications we expect First Homes to have for other affordable home schemes.
Speech in Westminster Hall - Tue 13 Jul 2021
Oxford-Cambridge Arc
"I beg to move,
That this House has considered the Oxford-Cambridge Arc.
This is a subject of the most profound importance to the whole of Buckinghamshire, so I am grateful for the opportunity to lead the debate. I convey apologies from my hon. Friend the Member for Buckingham (Greg Smith), …..."Steve Baker - View Speech
View all Steve Baker (Con - Wycombe) contributions to the debate on: Oxford-Cambridge Arc
Speech in Westminster Hall - Tue 13 Jul 2021
Oxford-Cambridge Arc
"I am most grateful to my hon. Friend for that intervention. Although he tempts me to elaborate on the points he makes, I hope that he will forgive me if I do not especially attack the Liberal Democrats in the absence of anyone to reply on their behalf—but I note …..."Steve Baker - View Speech
View all Steve Baker (Con - Wycombe) contributions to the debate on: Oxford-Cambridge Arc
Speech in Westminster Hall - Tue 13 Jul 2021
Oxford-Cambridge Arc
"My hon. Friend reminds me of a discussion we had about the way that housing is built. Will she agree that it is really important that, when housing goes in, sufficient green space exists through developments, so that people can still feel that they are getting the benefits of the …..."Steve Baker - View Speech
View all Steve Baker (Con - Wycombe) contributions to the debate on: Oxford-Cambridge Arc
Speech in Westminster Hall - Tue 13 Jul 2021
Oxford-Cambridge Arc
"Is it the case that the 1 million new houses were the National Infrastructure Commission’s idea, but that the Government have simply not adopted that as their target? I think that is what I heard the Minister clarify...."Steve Baker - View Speech
View all Steve Baker (Con - Wycombe) contributions to the debate on: Oxford-Cambridge Arc
Speech in Westminster Hall - Tue 13 Jul 2021
Oxford-Cambridge Arc
"It has been an interesting and informative debate. I am extremely grateful to my right hon. Friend the Minister for some of the things he said. Before I come on to those, I was grateful that my hon. Friend the Member for Beaconsfield (Joy Morrissey) reminded us that her constituents …..."Steve Baker - View Speech
View all Steve Baker (Con - Wycombe) contributions to the debate on: Oxford-Cambridge Arc
Speech in Commons Chamber - Mon 21 Jun 2021
Planning Decisions: Local Involvement
"Will the Minister allow me to intervene?..."Steve Baker - View Speech
View all Steve Baker (Con - Wycombe) contributions to the debate on: Planning Decisions: Local Involvement
Speech in Commons Chamber - Mon 21 Jun 2021
Planning Decisions: Local Involvement
"In Wycombe, in the especially treasured area of Gomm Valley, there was public consent for a plan to put in some houses that actually increased environmental amenity. Does my right hon. Friend agree that the public need the opportunity to say no, but the incentives to say yes, because they …..."Steve Baker - View Speech
View all Steve Baker (Con - Wycombe) contributions to the debate on: Planning Decisions: Local Involvement
Written Question
Friday 18th June 2021
Asked by:
Steve Baker (Conservative - Wycombe)
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 merits of updating the Solar Energy Planning Guidance to give the same protections to ordinary agricultural land, categories Agricultural Land Classification Grade 3b and below, that it receives in other planning guidance.
Answered by Christopher Pincher
The National Planning Policy Framework sets out that planning policies and decisions should contribute to and enhance the natural and local environment by recognising the benefits from natural capital, including those from the best and most versatile agricultural land. Though the Framework does not refer to agricultural land that is less versatile (graded 3b, 4 or 5 by Natural England), it does expect local planning authorities to have regard to the character and beauty of the countryside, and to protect valued soils and landscapes. Wherever possible, authorities should make the most of brownfield land for development.
The Framework explains that all communities have a responsibility to help increase the use and supply of green energy, but this does not mean that the need for renewable energy automatically overrides environmental protections and the planning concerns of local communities. As with other types of development, it is important that the planning concerns of local communities are properly heard in matters that directly affect them.