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35983

	registered interest
	date	30/01/2014
	answering body	Department for Communities and Local Government
	answering dept id	7
	answering dept short name
	answering dept sort name
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what steps his Department is taking to support local planning authorities in (a) improving the viability of brownfield sites and (b) restarting stalled developments.
	tabling member constituency	York Outer
	tabling member printed	Julian Sturdy
	uin	185957
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 03/04/2014 answer text <p> </p><p><em>Kick-starting stalled developments</em></p><p>This Government has introduced a series of measures to support stalled house building. These include:</p><p>· The Get Britain Building investment fund, providing over £500 million of finance which has so far helped start 11,893 new homes on stalled sites (as of February 2014).</p><p>· The Growing Places Fund is providing £770 million to deliver the infrastructure needed to unlock stalled schemes that will promote economic growth, create jobs and build homes. The fund has been fully allocated to Local Enterprise Partnerships and the devolved administrations to fund local projects.</p><p>· The £474 million Local Infrastructure Fund investment fund is supporting the delivery of upfront infrastructure for locally-supported, large scale housing sites and commercial development; it also provides capacity funding and brokerage support to local authorities to help them progress major schemes through the planning process. Nearly 80,000 homes have been unlocked on fifteen different sites. A further thirteen schemes are currently being assessed for investment, which we believe have the potential to deliver nearly 40,000 homes.</p><p>· The Autumn Statement committed an additional £1 billion of Local Infrastructure Fund funding to unlock locally-led housing schemes capable of delivering up to a further 250,000 new homes, and a second round prospectus will be published in due course.</p><p>· The Growth and Infrastructure Act 2013 enables developers with any Section 106 agreement to apply for a review of the affordable housing component to ensure development is not being made unviable by unrealistic requirements. Such unviable Section 106 agreements result in no development, no regeneration and no community benefits: a sensible review can result in more housing and more affordable housing.</p><p>· As the housing market has improved, we have ended the temporary measure (introduced by the last Administration) which allowed developers to roll forward their planning permissions; this ending of the measure will increase the incentive for developers to start on site before permission expires.</p><p>· We are also seeking to tackle the inappropriate use of planning conditions and speed up the process of gaining non-planning consents.</p><p>· The Budget announced a £525 million Builders' Finance Fund to assist small and medium sized developers to access finance to support the delivery of housing schemes of between 15 and 250 units, helping kick-start stalled sites and deliver around 15,000 units over four years.</p><p><em>Supporting development on brownfield land</em></p><p>Freeing up brownfield land for regeneration and development is a key priority for my department. Our actions include:</p><p>· We have amended planning regulations to make it easier to change the use of an existing building from commercial to residential use, retail to residential use and agricultural to residential use. Permitted development rights have been expanded, including for flats above shops and allowing for new temporary uses. The Budget announced our intention to further extend these flexibilities.</p><p>· The National Planning Policy Framework makes clear that planning should encourage the effective use of land by re-using brownfield land provided that it is not of high environmental value, and that local councils can set locally appropriate targets for using brownfield land. We have also amended planning practice guidance to stress the importance of bringing brownfield land into use.</p><p>· We have abolished the last Government's Pathfinder programme which sought to demolish homes and instead we have focused on refurbishment and getting empty homes into use. We are investing £160 million specifically to bring empty homes back into use. The New Homes Bonus rewards long-term empty homes being brought back into use and we have given councils the flexibility to remove tax subsidies given to empty homes, and use the money to keep the overall rate of council tax down. The number of empty homes in England has fallen to its lowest rate ever according to the Empty Homes Agency.</p><p>· My Department has been supporting the Olympic legacy, driving renewal and regeneration in east London, replacing over 740 acres of polluted, low-grade industrial land and premises with new sports and community facilities, parks, homes, shops and transport infrastructure.</p><p>· We are working with the Mayor of London to unlock the construction of 11,000 new homes at Barking Riverside, and extend transport infrastructure.</p><p>· A new garden city will be delivered on brownfield land in Ebbsfleet, supported by an Urban Development Corporation and up to £200 million of public investment. The last Administration pledged in its 2003 Sustainable Communities Plan to regenerate Ebbsfleet but failed to deliver.</p><p>· The new Right to Contest builds on our existing Community Right to Reclaim Land, which lets communities ask that under-used or unused land owned by public bodies is brought back into beneficial use. This new Right applies to sites currently in use, but are not vital for operations. It gives businesses and members of the public an opportunity to challenge government on the best use of its estate.</p><p>· We have a comprehensive programme to sell surplus public sector land and property, freeing up taxpayers' money and providing land for new homes. As at the end of December we had released surplus government owned land with capacity for 68,000 homes to be built. We have strengthened the role of the Homes and Communities Agency through a targeted programme of transfers from other Government Departments and agencies. In addition, to ensure land is released efficiently, the Homes and Communities Agency will be Government's land disposal agency. This builds on the Homes and Communities Agency's expertise and experience of complex land remediation and disposals as well as their close relationships with local planning authorities.</p><p>· Through the Strategic Land and Property Review we have identified scope to generate £5 billion of receipts from government land and property between 2015 and 2020. This will put land and property into the hands of those who can exploit them for commercial purposes – creating opportunities for housing and economic development.</p><p>· Changes to Community Infrastructure Levy rules now provide an increased incentive for brownfield development, and extended exemptions for empty buildings being brought back into. We have recently published a consultation paper to lift Section 106 burdens on vacant buildings being returned to use.</p><p>· The Budget announced an Estate Regeneration fund which will provide £150 million to help kick start and accelerate the regeneration of housing estates.</p><p>I hope this outlines the decisive action that this Government is taking.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency Grantham and Stamford answering member printed Nick Boles question first answered 03/04/2014 12:00:00 answering member 3995 label Biography information for Nick Boles
	tabling member	4079 label Biography information for Julian Sturdy

45206

	registered interest
	date	26/03/2014
	answering body	Department for Communities and Local Government
	answering dept id	7
	answering dept short name	Communities and Local Government
	answering dept sort name	Communities and Local Government
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the prevalence of wind turbine developers using the Community Right to Build scheme to circumvent the local planning process.
	tabling member constituency	York Outer
	tabling member printed	Julian Sturdy
	uin	193840
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 07/04/2014 answer text <p> </p><p>The Community Right to Build allows local communities to undertake small-scale, site-specific, community-led developments. It may only be used by community organisations in which local people in the relevant neighbourhood area have a majority of the voting rights and have the majority on the board of directors or governing body of the organisation, and, include different people from at least 10 different addresses within the area. This means the Community Right to Build cannot be used by property developers, including wind turbine developers, to gain planning permission for their development proposal - unless that development is something that the community wishes to see and which the community initiates.</p><p>Proposals that require an Environmental Impact Assessment or are likely to have significant effects on a site protected under the Habitats Regulations are not eligible to use the Community Right to Build. Where proposals are eligible they will be tested by an independent examiner to see that they are appropriate in the light of national planning policy and generally conform with the strategic policies of the Local Plan for the area and any neighbourhood plans that are in force.</p><p>The National Planning Policy Framework is very clear that local councils should design their policies to ensure the adverse impacts of renewable energy developments are addressed satisfactorily. To help implement the environmental balance expected by the Framework, we issued new planning practice guidance for renewable and low carbon energy last July. The guidance makes clear that the need for renewable energy does not automatically override environmental protections and the planning concerns of local communities.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Keighley answering member printed Kris Hopkins question first answered 07/04/2014 12:00:00 answering member 4043 label Biography information for Kris Hopkins
	tabling member	4079 label Biography information for Julian Sturdy

349978

	registered interest
	date	11/06/2015
	answering body	Department for Communities and Local Government
	answering dept id	7
	answering dept short name	Communities and Local Government
	answering dept sort name	Communities and Local Government
	hansard heading	Neighbourhood Plans
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what steps he is taking to streamline the Neighbourhood Planning process.
	tabling member constituency	York Outer
	tabling member printed	Julian Sturdy
	uin	2145
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 17/06/2015 answer text <p>Over 1,500 communities, representing over 6 million people, have started the process of neighbourhood planning. The Government wants to support communities that actively seek to meet local housing and other development needs through neighbourhood planning, and our £22.5 million support programme for 2015-18 offers a range of financial and technical support and online resources to support neighbourhood planning. The Queen's Speech to Parliament also set out that the Housing Bill would include measures to speed up the neighbourhood planning process. We will be publishing more details in due course. These reforms will build on the reforms to speed up and simplify the process that took effect in February.</p> answering member constituency Great Yarmouth answering member printed Brandon Lewis question first answered 17/06/2015 15:09:38 answering member 4009 label Biography information for Sir Brandon Lewis
	tabling member	4079 label Biography information for Julian Sturdy

381837

	registered interest
	date	17/06/2015
	answering body	Department for Communities and Local Government
	answering dept id	7
	answering dept short name	Communities and Local Government
	answering dept sort name	Communities and Local Government
	hansard heading	Planning Permission: Fees and Charges
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, if he will take steps to enable planning fees to be levied more flexibly so that the revenue raised from applications more adequately reflects the diverse workloads they generate.
	tabling member constituency	York Outer
	tabling member printed	Julian Sturdy
	uin	2859
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/06/2015 answer text <p>The Government have no plans to make changes to planning fees at present, but will keep the level of charges under review.</p> answering member constituency Great Yarmouth answering member printed Brandon Lewis question first answered 24/06/2015 11:40:32 answering member 4009 label Biography information for Sir Brandon Lewis
	tabling member	4079 label Biography information for Julian Sturdy

384586

	registered interest
	date	22/06/2015
	answering body	Department for Communities and Local Government
	answering dept id	7
	answering dept short name	Communities and Local Government
	answering dept sort name	Communities and Local Government
	hansard heading	Green Belt
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, with reference to the report entitled Green Belt Under Development by Glenigan Constructing Insight, dated August 2014, what assessment he has made of the causes of the changes in the number of planning approvals on the green belt over the last five years.
	tabling member constituency	York Outer
	tabling member printed	Julian Sturdy
	uin	3395
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/06/2015 answer text <p>Most planning approvals in Green Belt are non-residential, many in support of agriculture. National planning policy makes clear that most forms of development in Green Belt are inappropriate. Local planning authorities, in consultation with local communities, are in charge of protecting their Green Belt in line with policy in the National Planning Policy Framework. If inappropriate development is proposed, the local planning authority has to determine whether the harm to the Green Belt, and any other harm, would be clearly outweighed by other considerations, and whether there are very special circumstances to justify planning permission.<br><br></p> answering member constituency Great Yarmouth answering member printed Brandon Lewis question first answered 30/06/2015 11:18:47 answering member 4009 label Biography information for Sir Brandon Lewis
	tabling member	4079 label Biography information for Julian Sturdy

386979

	registered interest
	date	01/07/2015
	answering body	Department for Communities and Local Government
	answering dept id	7
	answering dept short name	Communities and Local Government
	answering dept sort name	Communities and Local Government
	hansard heading	Commission for Local Administration in England
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what steps he is taking to improve public accountability of the Local Government Ombudsman.
	tabling member constituency	York Outer
	tabling member printed	Julian Sturdy
	uin	5057
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 13/07/2015 answer text <p>The Local Government Ombudsman is independent of both Government and local authorities as regards their determination of specific cases but is accountable to Parliament for the performance of the Local Government Ombudsman service and is statutorily required to lay before Parliament its annual report and accounts.</p><p> </p><p>In addition the Communities and Local Government Committee have held inquiries into the service's work which has involved the Local Government Ombudsman giving evidence before the Committee.</p><p> </p><p>In the Queen's Speech, the Government announced that it would publish a draft Bill creating a single Public Service Ombudsman in this Parliamentary session. In establishing such a Public Services Ombudsman which will improve redress when things go wrong, the Government would put arrangements in place to ensure that there is clear and transparent accountability for this new Ombudsman service.</p> answering member constituency Nuneaton answering member printed Mr Marcus Jones question first answered 13/07/2015 14:39:13 answering member 4024 label Biography information for Mr Marcus Jones
	tabling member	4079 label Biography information for Julian Sturdy

436179

	registered interest
	date	08/12/2015
	answering body	Department for Communities and Local Government
	answering dept id	7
	answering dept short name	Communities and Local Government
	answering dept sort name	Communities and Local Government
	hansard heading	Derelict Land
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 14 September 2015 from the Parliamentary Under-Secretary for Communities and Local Government, on Brownfield Land, Official Report, column 742, when further details of the £1 billion brownfield regeneration fund will be announced; and if he will make a statement.
	tabling member constituency	York Outer
	tabling member printed	Julian Sturdy
	uin	19236
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 15/12/2015 answer text <p>We announced at the Autumn Statement that the Government is supporting development on brownfield land through a £2 billion Long Term Housing Development Fund to unlock housing development for up to 160,000 homes. This funding will support our key manifesto commitments to create a Brownfield Regeneration Fund and to fund Housing Zones to transform brownfield sites into new housing. At least half of the Long Term Fund will be spent on brownfield projects. The Housing Development Fund will be formally launched in the New Year.</p><br /> answering member constituency Stockton South answering member printed James Wharton question first answered 15/12/2015 15:51:19 answering member 4123 label Biography information for Lord Wharton of Yarm
	tabling member	4079 label Biography information for Julian Sturdy

506322

	registered interest
	date	08/04/2016
	answering body	Department for Communities and Local Government
	answering dept id	7
	answering dept short name	Communities and Local Government
	answering dept sort name	Communities and Local Government
	hansard heading	Right to Buy Scheme: Housing Associations
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what guidance his Department plans to provide to housing association tenants on the right to buy after Royal Assent to the Housing and Planning Bill.
	tabling member constituency	York Outer
	tabling member printed	Julian Sturdy
	uin	32809
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/04/2016 answer text <p>The Government runs a Right to Buy website which provides comprehensive information for interested tenants (<a href="https://righttobuy.gov.uk/" target="_blank">https://righttobuy.gov.uk</a>). This was recently updated with information about the voluntary Right to Buy pilot scheme. In addition, the Government’s official Right to Buy Agent service provides free, impartial advice to tenants interested in understanding and taking up the existing right to buy products. We are working closely with the National Housing Federation on the guidance available to housing association tenants under the voluntary right to buy agreement with the sector, and would look to ensure it is published before the roll out of the main scheme.</p> answering member constituency Great Yarmouth answering member printed Brandon Lewis question first answered 18/04/2016 15:59:13 answering member 4009 label Biography information for Sir Brandon Lewis
	tabling member	4079 label Biography information for Julian Sturdy

506323

	registered interest
	date	08/04/2016
	answering body	Department for Communities and Local Government
	answering dept id	7
	answering dept short name	Communities and Local Government
	answering dept sort name	Communities and Local Government
	hansard heading	Housing: Construction
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, whether any expressions of interest have been received from neighbourhood planning groups for small-scale sites consisting of starter homes to be included in their neighbourhood plans.
	tabling member constituency	York Outer
	tabling member printed	Julian Sturdy
	uin	32810
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/04/2016 answer text <p>The Department does not hold this information.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Great Yarmouth answering member printed Brandon Lewis question first answered 18/04/2016 16:17:16 answering member 4009 label Biography information for Sir Brandon Lewis
	tabling member	4079 label Biography information for Julian Sturdy

506324

	registered interest
	date	08/04/2016
	answering body	Department for Communities and Local Government
	answering dept id	7
	answering dept short name	Communities and Local Government
	answering dept sort name	Communities and Local Government
	hansard heading	Housing: Construction
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what estimate his Department has made of the number of housing development sites which were previously seen as financially unviable that may now be developed under the Starter Home initiative.
	tabling member constituency	York Outer
	tabling member printed	Julian Sturdy
	uin	32811
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 04/05/2016 answer text <p>The Department does not hold this information. The Housing and Planning Bill and national planning policy changes will set the framework to deliver our starter homes commitment; and once in force will apply to all housing development planning applications. Section 106 agreements may of course be re-negotiated at any time by mutual consent. Planning guidance is clear that local planning authorities should be flexible in their requirements, taking into account site specific circumstances and changing circumstances, including regarding viability.</p> answering member constituency Great Yarmouth answering member printed Brandon Lewis question first answered 04/05/2016 15:12:50 answering member 4009 label Biography information for Sir Brandon Lewis
	tabling member	4079 label Biography information for Julian Sturdy