17 Jul 2024·Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government·Answered
AskedCommunities and Local Government, how many new towns the Government plans on building.
ReplyThe Government has committed to delivering the next generation of new towns in partnership with local leaders and communities. We will take steps to ensure they contain high-quality, well-designed, and sustainable homes and the necessary infrastructure, amenities and services to thrive.Further details on the next generation of new towns will be provided in due course.
17 Jul 2024·Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government·Answered
AskedCommunities and Local Government, with reference to the speech entitled Chancellor Rachel Reeves is taking immediate action to fix the foundations of our economy, published on 8 July 2024, what methodology she plans to use to confirm that the target of 1.5 million homes over the next five years has been met.
ReplyIn our manifesto we committed to building 1.5 million homes over the duration of the parliament. We will update Parliament on our progress in the usual manner.
17 Jul 2024·Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government·Answered
AskedCommunities and Local Government, whether she plans to reform nutrient neutrality rules to meet her Department’s housing targets.
ReplyThe Government is committed to finding a solution that unlocks the building of homes affected by nutrient neutrality without weakening environmental protections.We will work with nature organisations, other stakeholders, and the sector to determine the best way forward and have already had initial conversations to that end.We will only act in legislation where we can confirm to Parliament that the steps we are taking will deliver positive environmental outcomes.If legislation is required for the purposes of enabling development to fund nature recovery where currently both are stalled, the Planning and Infrastructure Bill will provide the necessary legislative underpinning to unlock that win-win outcome for the economy and for nature.
17 Jul 2024·Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government·Answered
AskedCommunities and Local Government, with reference to her Department's press release of 16 July 2024 entitled Deputy Prime Minister kickstarts new devolution revolution to boost local power, what (a) powers and (b) responsibilities she plans to allocate to Mayoral and Combined Authorities.
ReplyThe Deputy Prime Minister has written to local leaders in those areas of England which are not yet covered by devolution, encouraging them to come forward with proposals by the end of September. Preparations for devolution settlements will be led by local areas themselves and the department is keen to grow devolution coverage across England.We have set out our intention to expand the devolution of powers in areas such as housing planning, transport, skills and employment support, building on the existing devolution framework.As part of our drive to hand more power to places and communities so they can better deliver growth in their local areas, the Government will also publish a new devolution framework in due course, setting out the new powers and flexibilities available to local areas.
17 Jul 2024·Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government·Answered
AskedCommunities and Local Government, with reference to her Department's press release entitled Deputy Prime Minister kickstarts new devolution revolution to boost local power, published on 16 July 2024, when she expects the first devolution deals to be signed by her Department.
ReplyThe Deputy Prime Minister has written to local leaders in those areas of England which are not yet covered by devolution, encouraging them to come forward with proposals by the end of September. Preparations for devolution settlements will be led by local areas themselves and the department is keen to grow devolution coverage across England.We have set out our intention to expand the devolution of powers in areas such as housing planning, transport, skills and employment support, building on the existing devolution framework.As part of our drive to hand more power to places and communities so they can better deliver growth in their local areas, the Government will also publish a new devolution framework in due course, setting out the new powers and flexibilities available to local areas.
17 Jul 2024·Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government·Answered
AskedCommunities and Local Government, how the grey belt will be designated; and whether she plans Ministerial involvement in such designation.
ReplyThe Government is committed to preserving the greenbelt which has served England’s towns and cities well over many decades.We intend to move away from a system that allows greenbelt land to regularly be released for development in a haphazard manner and often for speculative development that does not meet housing need.Without changing its purpose or general extent, Labour will take a more strategic approach to greenbelt land designation and release to build more homes in the right places.The release of lower quality grey belt land will be prioritised, and we will introduce ‘golden rules’ to ensure development benefits communities and nature.Further details on how grey belt land will be designated and the methods by which it might be released will be provided in due course.
17 Jul 2024·Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government·Answered
AskedCommunities and Local Government, what plans her Department plans to take to ensure local residents are consulted on any proposed construction on designated grey belt land.
ReplyThe Government is committed to preserving the greenbelt which has served England’s towns and cities well over many decades.We intend to move away from a system that allows greenbelt land to regularly be released for development in a haphazard manner and often for speculative development that does not meet housing need.Without changing its purpose or general extent, Labour will take a more strategic approach to greenbelt land designation and release to build more homes in the right places.The release of lower quality grey belt land will be prioritised, and we will introduce ‘golden rules’ to ensure development benefits communities and nature.Further details on how grey belt land will be designated and the methods by which it might be released will be provided in due course.
17 Jul 2024·Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government·Answered
AskedCommunities and Local Government, whether her Department plans to take steps to consult local residents on the (a) location, (b) design, (c) infrastructure and amenities available for proposed new towns.
ReplyThe Government has committed to delivering the next generation of new towns in partnership with local leaders and communities. We will take steps to ensure they contain high-quality, well-designed, and sustainable homes and the necessary infrastructure, amenities and services to thrive.Further details on the next generation of new towns will be provided in due course.
17 Jul 2024·Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government·Answered
AskedCommunities and Local Government, what assessment she has made of the impact of net immigration on housing supply.
ReplyImmigration is one of a number of factors that impacts on housing demand and future housing supply. We will continue to monitor both and update Parliament on our commitment to build 1.5m homes over five years.
17 Jul 2024·Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government·Answered
AskedCommunities and Local Government, with reference to her Department's press release entitled Deputy Prime Minister kickstarts new devolution revolution to boost local power, published on 16 July 2024, whether there will be penalties for areas that do not sign local growth plans.
ReplyThe Government has set out its intention to work with Combined Authorities to develop ambitious, long-term Local Growth Plans, setting out how local leaders will put their powers to use to deliver growth in every corner of the country.Local Growth Plans will be delivered through partnership, and my department will provide further detail on the approach to developing these Plans to local leaders in due course.Ministers have already spoken with metro Mayors about the possibilities of local growth plans and the benefits they can provide for residents and businesses alike.
17 Jul 2024·Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government·Answered
AskedCommunities and Local Government, with reference to her Department's press release entitled, Deputy Prime Minister kickstarts new devolution revolution to boost local power, published on 16 July 2024, what her expected timetable is for signing off the first local growth plan.
ReplyThe Government has set out its intention to work with Combined Authorities to develop ambitious, long-term Local Growth Plans, setting out how local leaders will put their powers to use to deliver growth in every corner of the country.Local Growth Plans will be delivered through partnership, and my department will provide further detail on the approach to developing these Plans to local leaders in due course.Ministers have already spoken with metro Mayors about the possibilities of local growth plans and the benefits they can provide for residents and businesses alike.
17 Jul 2024·Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government·Answered
AskedCommunities and Local Government, with reference to her Department's press release entitled Deputy Prime Minister kickstarts new devolution revolution to boost local power, published on 16 July 2024, how she plans to assess local growth plans; and over what timeframe such assessments will be made.
ReplyThe Government has set out its intention to work with Combined Authorities to develop ambitious, long-term Local Growth Plans, setting out how local leaders will put their powers to use to deliver growth in every corner of the country.Local Growth Plans will be delivered through partnership, and my department will provide further detail on the approach to developing these Plans to local leaders in due course.Ministers have already spoken with metro Mayors about the possibilities of local growth plans and the benefits they can provide for residents and businesses alike.