29 May 2026·Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government·Answered
AskedCommunities and Local Government, how many properties have been purchased by the Local Authority Housing Fund in (a) the Chichester District, (b) the Horsham District, (c) the Arun District and (d) aggregate for
ReplySince 2022, there have been several rounds of properties purchased through the Local Authority Housing Fund. Round 1 (delivered between 2022- 24), Round 2 (delivered between 2023-25) and Round 3 (delivered between 2024-26). Chichester has delivered 18 hom...
26 Mar 2026·Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government·Answered
AskedCommunities and Local Government, how many planning applications were submitted for change of use into Class E for each of the last three years.
ReplyMy Department does not hold the information requested.
12 Dec 2025·Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government·Answered
AskedCommunities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 10 December 2025 to Question 97277 on Business Rates: Tax Allowances, if he will modify the Business Rates Information Letter (5/2025) sent to English Billing Authorities on 26 November 2025 so that the calculation for Base Liability aligns with the case studies in the Budget 2025: Retail, Hospitality, and Leisure Factsheet.
ReplyThe Business Rates Information Letter (5/2025) is already aligned with the Budget 2025: Retail, Hospitality and Leisure factsheet. On 15 December 2025, the government published the 2026 Supporting Small Business Relief local authority guidance which is intended to support billing authorities in administering the scheme. It can be viewed on gov.uk here.
1 Dec 2025·Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government·Answered
AskedCommunities and Local Government, if he will modify the Business Rates Information Letter (5/2025) sent to English Billing Authorities on 26 November so that that the formula for the calculation of Transitional Relief calculates 2025-26 BL as A multiplied by M minus RHL relief where applicable.
ReplyAt the Budget the Chancellor announced a Transitional Relief Scheme and a Supporting Small Business Relief scheme – both of which help ratepayers that are seeing significant bill increases as a result of the 2026 business rates revaluation. The 2026 Supporting Small Business Relief Scheme provides support for ratepayer losing certain reliefs including the current 40% relief for Retail, Hospitality and Leisure. This means most properties seeing increases will see them capped at 15% or less next year, or £800 for the smallest. As is made clear in paragraph 8(b) of the Annex to the Business Rates Information Letter issued on 26 November, the Base Liability (BL) within the Supporting Small Business Relief Scheme will reflect any Small Business Rate Relief, Rural Rate Relief, 2023 Supporting Small Business Relief or 2025/26 Retail Hospitality and Leisure relief applicable at 31/3/26.
27 Nov 2025·Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government·Answered
AskedCommunities and Local Government, when he will publish guidance for Businesses on the application of the a.) Transition Relief Scheme, b.) Transition Relief Supplement, and c.) Supporting Small Business Relief Scheme.
ReplyAt the Budget the Chancellor announced a business rates Transitional Relief, Transitional Relief Supplement and Supporting Small Business Relief. Regulations providing for the Transitional Relief Scheme and the Transitional Relief Supplement must be made by 31 January 2026 and will be laid in the coming weeks. The Government will publish guidance for local authorities on the administration of the Supporting Small Business Relief Scheme in the coming weeks ahead of the 2026/27 billing cycle. The Government has provided information on the Transitional and Supporting Small Business Reliefs that will apply from 1 April 2026 on gov.uk here.
28 Apr 2025·Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government·Answered
AskedCommunities and Local Government, what discussions she has had with planning authorities in the (a) South West, (b) South East, (c) West Midlands, (d) East Midlands and (e) the East of England on the designation of new green belts.
ReplyGovernment policy in respect of the designation of new Green Belts may be found in Chapter 13 of the National Planning Policy Framework, which sets out that new Green Belts should be established only in exceptional circumstances. The Framework was recently updated following extensive consultation, including with local planning authorities.
12 Feb 2025·Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government·Answered
AskedCommunities and Local Government, what HM Land Registry's average response time is on requests to merge title deeds.
ReplyThe government does not hold the information in the format requested.HM Land Registry processing times for a range of broad application categories can be found on gov.uk here.
21 Jan 2025·Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government·Answered
AskedCommunities and Local Government, whether her Department offers paternity leave to its staff from their first working day.
ReplyPaternity Leave entitlement is based on 26 weeks of continuous service ending with the 15th week before the baby is due. Qualifying service includes employment with another civil service organisation.As with any changes to employment legislation, internal policies and processes will be updated as appropriate in preparation for when the Employment Rights Bill 2024 comes into effect.
3 Sept 2024·Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government·Answered
AskedCommunities and Local Government, what recent assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of immigration on the length of waiting lists for social housing in (a) Horsham, (b) Chichester District an
ReplyThe department does not hold information on the immigration status of those on the waiting lists. Local Authority Housing Statistics show that, at 31 March 2023, Horsham District Council had 740 households on the waiting list for social housing, Chicheste...
3 Sept 2024·Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government·Answered
AskedCommunities and Local Government, with reference to her oral contribution of 30 July 2024, Official Report, column 1194, what steps she (a) is taking and (b) plans to take to amend social housing allocation polic
ReplyLocal councils already have necessary powers to give priority to local residents, and most are doing so. In March 2023, 89% of councils had a local connection test and/or a residency test in place.Responses to the recent consultation on changes to social ...