Asked by: Steve Double (Conservative - St Austell and Newquay)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, when he plans to publish the Government's response to the consultation entitled Introduction of a use class for short term lets and associated permitted development rights which closed on 7 June 2023.
Answered by Lee Rowley
We are currently considering the responses received and will make further announcements in due course.
Asked by: Steve Double (Conservative - St Austell and Newquay)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, what plans he has to help ensure that people in rural communities can access affordable housing, in the context of high prices in the housing market and announcements on the abolition of affordable housing targets.
Answered by Lee Rowley
The National Planning Policy Framework already makes clear that planning policies and decisions should be responsive to local circumstances in rural areas. Our Rural Exception Sites policy allows for the development of small affordable housing sites in rural areas, with the majority of housing on these sites being available to local people in perpetuity. We published planning practice guidance in 2020 to help local authorities and developers bring more of these sites forward.
We have not made any announcements of changes to affordable housing policy.
Asked by: Steve Double (Conservative - St Austell and Newquay)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps he is taking to simplify and homogenise across local authorities the process of applying for business rates relief under the Government’s new £1.5bn for businesses affected by covid-19 outside the retail, hospitality and leisure sectors.
Answered by Luke Hall
The Department will ensure that local authorities have the guidance they need to deliver the additional £1.5 billion business rates support package once primary legislation is passed, in line with the announcement on 25 March. As with other business rates reliefs, officials will work closely with local government on the development of the relief scheme and guidance for local authorities will be published in due course.
Asked by: Steve Double (Conservative - St Austell and Newquay)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether the Government plans to publish advice to local authorities on delaying billing of business rates until after a sustained period of trading has occurred.
Answered by Luke Hall
The terms of business rates reliefs for 2021-22 were set out by the Chancellor at the Budget. Business rates billing is a matter for local authorities. They are best placed to make judgements about how best to pursue liabilities. If a ratepayer is experiencing difficulties in paying their bill, they should contact their local authority as soon as possible.
In addition to business rates measures, the Government has provided a package of support grants for businesses. Including the new Restart Grant scheme available from April, the Government will have provided a total of £25 billion to business grants throughout the course of the pandemic.
Asked by: Steve Double (Conservative - St Austell and Newquay)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what guidance will be provided to hospitality businesses on how to access full business rates relief under the allowance where they trade across different local authority areas.
Answered by Luke Hall
Following the commitment made by the Chancellor at the Budget to extend the expanded retail discount into 2021-22, my Department published guidance on 4 March to help authorities implement their local schemes.
The guidance sets out how the eligibility criteria and cash cap (which applies from 1 July) operates and how authorities should determine the award of relief. Local authorities are responsible for implementing the discount having regard to the guidance. Any ratepayer who considers that they should have been eligible for relief that has been withheld should contact the relevant local authority.