Every parliamentary written question tabled by Kevin Hollinrake this session, with the full answer and department. Back to the MP page.
Showing 741–760 of 1,583 · Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
Communities and Local Government, whether she plans to amend the Habitats Regulations.
The Planning and Infrastructure Bill includes targeted amendments to the Habitats Regulations, with Schedule 4 including changes necessary to streamline environmental assessment as part of Environmental Delivery Plans and Schedule 6 adding Ramsar Sites to Part 6 of the Habitats Regulations so these sites are covered whilst strengthening protections.
Communities and Local Government, whether (a) environmental delivery plans and (b) the nature restoration fund will replace suitable alternative natural greenspace.
Suitable Alternative Natural Greenspace (SANG) can be used to address the negative effects of development leading to recreational disturbance of Habitats Sites. Where appropriate, SANGs will continue to play an important role in nature restoration under both Environmental Delivery Plans (which will be funded by the Nature Restoration Fund) and the existing Habitats Regulations Assessment regime.
Communities and Local Government, in what circumstances a previous landowner is eligible for additional compensation following a Compulsory Purchase Order; and how this applies to Compulsory Purchase Orders where hope value has been removed.
Additional compensation may be payable where a compulsory purchase order was confirmed with a direction removing hope value, but the acquiring authority does not build out their scheme as proposed. The Department has issued guidance on the circumstances where additional compensation may be claimed.
Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 7 March 2025 to Question 31685 on Public Consultation: Young People, how the young people for the two round tables on the long term strategy for communities were selected.
Young people were invited to participate via DCMS-funded youth programmes. Participants represented a range of age groups and communities from across the country. The government continues its work to deliver for communities and is currently developing its longer-term strategy. We will set out next steps in due course.
Communities and Local Government, whether her Department holds information on the individual bye-laws in force by each local authority.
MHCLG does not hold information on individual byelaws in force by each local authority.
Communities and Local Government, whether her Department plans to change disqualification rules for (a) councillors, (b) mayors and (c) other elected representatives, in relation to those found guilty of sexual offences.
On changes to local government disqualification criteria, I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 41451. The government has been clear that standards in local government need to be improved and that could include a standards regime which has the power to suspend, sanction and disqualify for the most serious breaches. Councillors and mayors already face disqualification if found guilty of sexual offences. Individuals made subject to the notification requirements or who receive a relevant order for sexual offences are disqualified for as long as they remain subject to them. Someone cannot be a Police and Crime Commissioner if they have ever been convicted of an imprisonable offence. We have no plans to extend the House of Commons disqualification criteria beyond those set out in the House of Commons Disqualification Act 1975 and the Representation of the People Act 1981. There are also mechanisms in place under the Recall of MPs Act 2015 for the electorate to decide whether to remove MPs convicted of other offences.
Communities and Local Government, with reference to the press release entitled £2 billion new investment to support biggest boost in social and affordable housebuilding in a generation, published on 25 March 2025, over what period the (a) funding will be allocated and (b) new homes will be (i) commenced and (ii) completed.
I refer the hon. Member to the Written Ministerial Statement made on 25 March 2025 (HCWS549)
Communities and Local Government, with reference her Department's consultation response entitled, Building Safety Levy: Technical consultation response, published on 25 March 2025, if the Building Safety Levy will apply to (a) live sites at the time of implementation and (b) new sites after the implementation of the levy.
The Building Safety Levy (levy) is one of a package of measures to make sure that the burden of paying for fixing historical building safety defects does not fall on leaseholders or further burden taxpayers.Developers will pay the levy on new residential development, subject to certain exemptions. It will come into effect in Autumn 2026. Anyone submitting an application for building control approval with full plans, a building control approval application (made to the Building Safety Regulator), or an initial notice for construction of, or works to, one or more dwellings or purpose built student accommodation (PBSA), after the levy has come into effect, will be liable to pay the levy, except where an exemption applies. The levy will not apply to applications for new dwellings that were submitted before the coming-into-force date.The design of the levy maintains viability of new developments as far as possible through variable levy rates at local authority level and a 50% discount on developments on previously developed land, reflecting the additional costs of building on these sites. Affordable housing and community facilities are exempt from the levy.The rates for each local authority can be found at Annex A: Levy Rates of the Building Safety Levy: Technical consultation response.
Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 13 March 2025 to Question 36414 on Local Government: Reorganisation, whether she plans to include London Boroughs in a future round of restructuring.
As outlined in our answer to Question UIN 36414 on 13 March 2025, on 5 February the government formally invited unitary proposals from only those councils in two-tier local government areas and their neighbouring small unitaries, no London Boroughs were included in this invitation. The English Devolution White Paper set out that the government is taking a phased approach to delivery and will also facilitate reorganisation for those unitary councils where there is evidence of failure or where their size or boundaries are impacting on their responsibilities.
Communities and Local Government, whether new towns will be built through development corporations.
The independent New Towns Taskforce will publish its report this Summer, including recommendations on new town locations and delivery mechanisms.
Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 14 March 2025 to Question 36096 on MHCLG: Trade Union Officials, whether she plans to continue publishing this data following the passage of the Employment Rights Bill.
As with any changes to employment legislation, the department will review the position on reporting requirements as appropriate in line with the Employment Rights Bill 2024 and any applicable Cabinet Office guidance.
Communities and Local Government, with reference her Department's consultation response entitled, Building Safety Levy: Technical consultation response, published on 25 March 2025, when the Building Safety Levy will come into force.
The Building Safety Levy (levy) is one of a package of measures to make sure that the burden of paying for fixing historical building safety defects does not fall on leaseholders or further burden taxpayers.Developers will pay the levy on new residential development, subject to certain exemptions. It will come into effect in Autumn 2026. Anyone submitting an application for building control approval with full plans, a building control approval application (made to the Building Safety Regulator), or an initial notice for construction of, or works to, one or more dwellings or purpose built student accommodation (PBSA), after the levy has come into effect, will be liable to pay the levy, except where an exemption applies. The levy will not apply to applications for new dwellings that were submitted before the coming-into-force date.The design of the levy maintains viability of new developments as far as possible through variable levy rates at local authority level and a 50% discount on developments on previously developed land, reflecting the additional costs of building on these sites. Affordable housing and community facilities are exempt from the levy.The rates for each local authority can be found at Annex A: Levy Rates of the Building Safety Levy: Technical consultation response.
Communities and Local Government, with reference to section one of the policy paper entitled A new approach to ensure regulators and regulation support growth, published on 17 March 2025, if she will make an assessment of the potential cumulative impact of these regulations on the private rented sector.
The Renters’ Rights Bill delivers our manifesto commitment to transform the experience of private renting, including by ending Section 21 ‘no fault’ evictions. While the majority of landlords provide a good service, the private rented sector currently provides the least affordable, poorest quality and most insecure housing of all tenures. A sector that does not work for those who depend on it is bad for economic growth and productivity, detrimental to good public health, and a drain on aspiration. The government’s Impact Assessment for the Bill indicated that, for landlords that already provide decent homes and a prompt repair service to their tenants, the costs of our reforms are estimated to be just £22 per rented property annually – only 0.2% of mean annual rents. Landlords are expected to benefit from our reforms too – we estimate a gross benefit to landlords of £9 per property per year. Following Royal Assent of the Bill, we will allow time for a smooth transition to the new system. We will support tenants, landlords and agents to understand and adjust to the new rules.
Communities and Local Government, whether the Nature Restoration Fund levy will be subject to economic viability assessments.
I refer the hon. Member to Clause 62, subsection (2) of the Planning and Infrastructure Bill.
Communities and Local Government, with reference her Department's consultation response entitled, Building Safety Levy: Technical consultation response, published on 25 March 2025, at what rate the Building Safety Levy will be set..
The Building Safety Levy (levy) is one of a package of measures to make sure that the burden of paying for fixing historical building safety defects does not fall on leaseholders or further burden taxpayers.Developers will pay the levy on new residential development, subject to certain exemptions. It will come into effect in Autumn 2026. Anyone submitting an application for building control approval with full plans, a building control approval application (made to the Building Safety Regulator), or an initial notice for construction of, or works to, one or more dwellings or purpose built student accommodation (PBSA), after the levy has come into effect, will be liable to pay the levy, except where an exemption applies. The levy will not apply to applications for new dwellings that were submitted before the coming-into-force date.The design of the levy maintains viability of new developments as far as possible through variable levy rates at local authority level and a 50% discount on developments on previously developed land, reflecting the additional costs of building on these sites. Affordable housing and community facilities are exempt from the levy.The rates for each local authority can be found at Annex A: Levy Rates of the Building Safety Levy: Technical consultation response.
Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 3 March 2025 to Question 31973 on Affordable Housing: Construction, and with reference to the Update from MHCLG on targets on the 2021-26 Affordable Homes Programme, published on 30 July 2024, if she will provide a breakdown of the latest target or estimated total number of dwellings to be delivered under the 2021-26 programme, separate to the proposed extension to 2026-27 set out in 25 March 2025, Official Report, HCWS549.
My Department published an update on targets in the 2021-26 Programme on 30 July 2024 on gov.uk here. At Spring statement, the government announced an immediate injection of £2 billion to support delivery of the biggest boost in social and affordable housebuilding in a generation and contribute to our ambitious Plan for Change milestone of building 1.5 million safe and decent homes in this Parliament. Further detail can be found in the Written Ministerial Statement made on 25 March 2025 (HCWS549). In October 2024, this government announced £500 million in new in-year funding for the Affordable Homes Programme, found on gov.uk here. As a result of significant demand from housing providers across the country, that additional funding is already oversubscribed. In the Written Ministerial Statement made on 12 February 2025 (HCWS447), this government announced allocating a further £300 million to the Affordable Homes Programme. This will support the near-term delivery of more social and affordable housing, delivering up to 2,800 new homes with more than half being Social Rent homes. In addition, at the multi-year Spending Review later this year, the government will set out details of new investment to succeed the 2021-26 Affordable Homes Programme. This new investment will deliver a mix of homes for sub-market rent and home-ownership, with a particular focus on delivering homes for Social Rent. We will publish a new report after the summer recess.
Communities and Local Government, with reference to the press notice entitled £2 billion new investment to support biggest boost in social and affordable housebuilding in a generation, published on 25 March 2025, how many and what proportion of those new homes will be available for social rent.
I refer the hon. Member to the Written Ministerial Statement made on 25 March 2025 (HCWS549).
Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 14 March 2025 to Question 37069 on Local Government Finance, what information her Department holds on the financial impact of other forms of recent local government reorganisation.
As set out it in the English Devolution White Paper, the unitary proposals submitted to the Department from the most recently established unitary councils identified a range of efficiencies that could be achieved where council services are brought together in one organisation.
Communities and Local Government, what the average time was to complete a home once planning permission had been granted in the latest period for which data is available.
The information requested is not held by the Department.
Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 14 March 2025 to Question 36103 on Islamophobia, what the public appointment process will be.
The Anti-Muslim Hatred/Islamophobia working group has been established to provide government with a working definition of Anti-Muslim Hatred which is reflective of a wide range of perspectives and priorities of British Muslims. The Working Group is made up of representatives from Muslim communities, independent experts, and academics. Full membership details of the Anti-Muslim Hatred/Islamophobia Definition Working Group have been published on GOV.UK. The Government expects all holders of public office to work to the highest personal and professional standards. Further details of the Government’s public appointments process and the Governance Code of Public Appointments can be found on GOV.UK.