Written questions by Simmonds.

Communities and Local Government, whether her Department is taking steps to help ensure that vacant homes built under section 106 agreements are occupied.

The government is well aware of concerns about reduced appetite from Registered Providers of social housing to buy affordable homes delivered under Section 106 agreements. We will continue to work with housebuilders, local authorities, and Registered Providers to tackle this problem.One of the main causes of the problem is a reduction in Registered Providers’ financial capacity over recent years. The government recognises that Registered Providers need support to build their capacity and make a greater contribution to affordable housing supply. We are currently consulting on a new 5-year social housing rent settlement, to give Registered Providers the certainty they need to invest in new social and affordable housing.We have also announced that councils will be allowed to keep 100% of the receipts generated by Right to Buy sales, so that they are better able to build and buy new homes. We have provided flexibility for councils to combine Right to Buy receipts with Section 106 contributions (this flexibility will be in place for an initial 24 months and then subject to review).

Communities and Local Government, what her (a) housing and (b) planning policy is on encouraging councils to turn (i) empty and (ii) redundant office space into residential accommodation.

The National Planning Policy Framework makes clear that substantial weight should be given to the value of using suitable brownfield land within settlements, including the development of under-utilised land and buildings to meet the need for homes and other uses.As part of our recent consultation on proposed reforms to the Framework, we set out proposals to broaden the existing definition of brownfield land, set a strengthened expectation that applications on brownfield land will be approved, and make clear that plans should promote an uplift in density in urban areas.On 22 September we published a ‘brownfield passport’ policy paper inviting views on how we might further prioritise and fast-track building on previously used urban land.

Communities and Local Government, what her planned timetable is for responding to the policy paper entitled Publication of the Grenfell Tower Inquiry phase 2 report, published on 4 September 2024.

We are considering the recommendations set out in the Grenfell Inquiry report. The Prime Minister has committed to respond in full to the Inquiry’s recommendations within six months.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 9 September 2024 to Question 3005 on Housing: Greater London, what discussions he has had with the Greater London Authority on the reasons for housing delivery being below below existing London Plan targets.

The Government is committed to working in partnership with the Mayor of London, boroughs and the sector to significantly increase housing delivery in the capital. My department, both ministers and officials, meet regularly with the Greater London Authority to discuss housing delivery.

Communities and Local Government, with reference to her Department's policy paper, entitled Brownfield Passport: Making the Most of Urban Land, published in September 2024, whether it is her policy that planning approvals under the new brownfield passport regime would still require a substantive planning application.

The government’s planning reform working paper regarding a brownfield passport invites views on further action the government could take through the planning system to support the development of brownfield land in urban areas. It proposes options for a form of ‘brownfield passport’, which would be more specific about the development that should be regarded as acceptable, with the default answer to suitable proposals being a straightforward “yes”. The proposals relate to the principle, the scale, and the form of development, and to the potential wider use of Local Development Orders to grant area-wide permissions – all in a way that retains appropriate local oversight. A series of questions are posed at the end of the paper, to inform discussions with the sector before determining whether any of these proposals are taken forward. We continue to accept responses to the paper, and will set out further information on how we intend to respond in due course.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 14 October 2024 to Question 6190 on Permitted Development Rights, whether her Department has made an assessment of the extent to which that consultation met the Cabinet Office’s consultation principles guidance.

While we cannot comment on the actions of the previous government, the consultation document sets out how it was planned to adhere to the consultation principles issued by the Cabinet Office.

Communities and Local Government, when she plans to bring forward legislative proposals to remove the requirement for councillor’s home addresses to be published.

Primary legislation is needed to remove the requirement for local government members’ home addresses to be included in published versions of registers of interests. We intend to legislate at the first available opportunity.There are also limited circumstances where those local government candidates acting as their own election agent may need to disclose their home address during an election, when they do not provide an office address. We are considering whether to amend this requirement, whilst ensuring that agents continue to provide a correspondence address for enforcement and legal purposes.

Communities and Local Government, whether her Department has issued guidance on whether the embodied carbon of an existing building is a material consideration in the planning process.

The government’s Planning Practice Guidance on Climate Change, National Design Guide and National Model Design Code provide general guidance on how carbon impacts can be taken into account in the planning process.In our recent consultation on proposed reforms to the National Planning Policy Framework and other changes to the planning system, we sought views on whether carbon can be accurately measured and accounted for in plan-making and planning decisions. The consultation closed on 24 September and officials in my department are currently analysing responses with a view to publishing a government response before the end of the year

Communities and Local Government, what her planned timetable is for the publication of the new cladding remediation plan.

On Monday 2 November we announced a Remediation Acceleration Plan which sets out key measures to remove unsafe cladding from buildings faster, identify remaining buildings still at risk and ensure that residents are supported through the remediation process.

Communities and Local Government, how many homes (a) in total and (b) by type of tenure have been financed under the Levelling Up Home Building Fund.

Since the Levelling Up Home Building Fund launched in 2022, it has committed funding to support the delivery of 35,695 new homes against its target of 42,000.Tenure breakdown information is only available once construction is started on site, so is not available against the total number of homes financed.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 31 July 2024 to Question 1329 on Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government: Marketing, what the final cost of the re-branding was; and whether any transactions relating to the re-branding were published in her Departmental spending data.

Changing the name of the department did not attract a significant cost as we returned to a department name which had been previously used. Most of the work was completed internally. Details of expenditure are published on gov.uk.

Communities and Local Government, whether special advisers in her Department have had meetings with (a) representatives and (b) clients of Arden Strategies since 5 July 2024.

In line with the practice of successive administrations, details of external meetings held by Special Advisers are published in line with the requirements set out in guidance here.

Communities and Local Government, with reference to the written Ministerial Statement of 28 October 2024 on Social and Affordable Housing: Next Steps, HCWS169, whether the fund with Muse Places Limited and Pension Insurance Corporation is (a) grant funding, (b) a loan, (c) a financial guarantee or (d) a financial transaction.

The government’s investment into a joint venture with Muse Places and Pension Insurance Corporation, publicly branded as Habiko, is an equity stake into an investment vehicle – which can be classified as a financial transaction – owned equally between PIC, Muse & Homes England.Homes England's investment was funded through the Levelling Up Home Building Fund and this partnership plans to deliver 3,000 low-carbon, low-energy affordable homes.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 9 October 2024 to Question 5417 on Housing: Construction, if she will list the 60 local authorities affected by nutrient neutrality rules.

At the Budget on 30 October, the Chancellor announced £45 million for seven local authority areas for Round 2 of the Local Nutrient Mitigation fund. The allocations were awarded to authorities affected by nutrient neutrality on the basis of bids submitted by them for mitigation schemes. A further £2 million was divided between the largest catchments affected by nutrient neutrality to support cross-boundary work on this issue. The authorities affected by nutrient neutrality were listed in the expression of interest for the fund, published on gov.uk on 23 May 2023.

Communities and Local Government, with reference to the written Ministerial Statement of 28 October 2024 on Social and Affordable Housing: Next Steps, HCWS169, whether the funding at Liverpool Central Docks is (a) grant funding, (b) a loan, (c) a financial guarantee and (d) a financial transaction.

This scheme will be supported through a £55.8 million grant from the Brownfield Infrastructure and Land fund to Liverpool City Council.

Communities and Local Government, what guidance her Department issues to local authorities on the rights householders have to plant a tree (a) within the curtilage of and (b) on a green space immediately adjacent to their property without the consent of their local authority.

The department has not issued any such guidance.

Communities and Local Government, with reference to the written Ministerial Statement of 28 October 2024 on Social and Affordable Housing: Next Steps, HCWS169, what methodology will be used to allocate the £47 million in relation to nutrient neutrality; and what the eligibility requirement for receiving the funds will be.

At the Budget on 30 October, the Chancellor announced £45 million for seven local authority areas for Round 2 of the Local Nutrient Mitigation fund. The allocations were awarded to authorities affected by nutrient neutrality on the basis of bids submitted by them for mitigation schemes. A further £2 million was divided between the largest catchments affected by nutrient neutrality to support cross-boundary work on this issue. The authorities affected by nutrient neutrality were listed in the expression of interest for the fund, published on gov.uk on 23 May 2023.

Communities and Local Government, what her planned timetable is to consult on changes to Energy Performance Certificate methodology.

Energy Performance Certificates provide homeowners and renters with valuable information about the energy performance of their homes.However, it is now widely recognised that improvements need to be made to the EPC system to improve their accuracy and reliability, whilst ensuring they are giving people a wider range of information. We are developing plans to address this and will shortly launch a consultation with more detail.

Communities and Local Government, with reference to her Department's guidance entitled New burdens doctrine: guidance for government departments, updated on 29 July 2022, whether proposed changes to (a) employers National Insurance contributions and (b) the minimum wage are new burdens.

We have announced £1.3 billion of new grant funding in 2025/26 for local government to deliver core services. Together with local income from council tax and locally-retained business rates, this will provide a real-terms increase in total core spending power of around 3.2%, which can be used to address the range of pressures facing local government.The Government has committed to provide support for departments and other public sector employers for additional employer NICs costs. This applies to those directly employed by the public sector, including local government.The New Burdens Doctrine does not apply to policies which apply the same rules to local authorities and to private sector bodies (for example changes in general taxation, or employment legislation that applies to all organisations), unless these have a disproportionate effect on local government.

Communities and Local Government, whether local authority core funding will include funding for proposed changes to (a) employers National Insurance contributions and (b) the minimum wage.

We have announced £1.3 billion of new grant funding in 2025/26 for local government to deliver core services. Together with local income from council tax and locally-retained business rates, this will provide a real-terms increase in total core spending power of around 3.2%, which can be used to address the range of pressures facing local government.The Government has committed to provide support for departments and other public sector employers for additional employer NICs costs. This applies to those directly employed by the public sector, including local government.The New Burdens Doctrine does not apply to policies which apply the same rules to local authorities and to private sector bodies (for example changes in general taxation, or employment legislation that applies to all organisations), unless these have a disproportionate effect on local government.