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<p>The Government has policies and programmes in place to assist local authorities
to build more homes. This includes the £122 million additional borrowing allocated
to 22 councils to help them build new affordable homes and support local growth. We
will make further announcements of additional borrowing to local councils later in
the year. This is only possible thanks to the decisive action we have taken to reduce
the deficit left by the last Labour Government. Further details of the actions we
have taken recently to support house building, amongst other departmental work, are
set out in the written statement made on13 October 2014 (Official Report, Written
Ministerial Statements, Column 2WS).</p><p> </p><p>All new homes have to meet Building
Regulations’ requirements and in April strengthened energy performance standards came
into effect. In the Housing Standards Review, the Government is streamlining the technical
standards which apply to new housing development and consolidating as far as possible
necessary requirements into Building Regulations to ensure new homes are sustainable.
As part of the review, the Government intends to bring forward optional Building Regulations
requirements in areas such as accessibility and water efficiency which will enable
local authorities to apply higher standards than the Building Regulations national
minimum standard where there is a local need, and viability is not compromised.</p><p>
</p><p>Furthermore, The National Planning Policy Framework makes clear that the purpose
of the planning system is to contribute to sustainable development and local authorities
should consider applications for housing development in that context.</p>
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