Written questions by Hollinrake.

Communities and Local Government, what the average grant per unit was for a social rent dwelling in the 2015-18 Affordable Housing Programme.

The Affordable Housing Programme for 2015-2018 was extended to 2020 at the Autumn Statement 2014.However, the programme was interrupted at the 2015 Spending Review and the remaining programme budget was consolidated into the Affordable Homes Programme for 2016-2023.Delivery data for the 2015-18 programme is set out in the National Audit Office (NAO) Report: The Affordable Homes Programme since 2015. The report can be found on the NAO website here.

Communities and Local Government, what estimate she has made of the additional cost to Eden Project North of delays to that project.

I can confirm that in November 2024 the department approved the Full Business Case for the £50 million of HM Government funding.We are all keen to see the delivery impact of this investment as soon as possible. Funding will be released in line with delivery milestones.The £2.5 million relates to the development phase funding to assist in detailed design and other activities that enable Lancaster City Council to progress delivery. This development funding decision was made in February 2024 and forms part of the approved grant for the project.Lancaster City Council are currently progressing with the detailed design and cost assessment of the project. Key resources such as design teams and projects managers have been procured, and the project is progressing in line with key milestones. My officials continue to work closely with Lancaster City Council to support delivery.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 18 December 2024 to Question 18951 on Local Government Finance, whether the debt of Woking Borough Council will be redistributed to a new unitary local authority covering Woking.

The English Devolution White Paper published on 16 December announced that the Government will facilitate local government reorganisation for two-tier areas and for unitary councils where there is evidence of failure, or where their size or boundaries may be hindering their ability to deliver sustainable and high-quality public services.Previous Secretaries of State used statutory powers to intervene in a small number of councils failing their Best Value Duty partly associated with high levels of unsustainable debt. We will work with local leaders to explore how best to support local government reorganisation where there has been failure. We will continue to work with Best Value Commissioners in these councils to support the councils’ financial recovery.

Communities and Local Government, with reference to the policy paper entitled Oxford-Cambridge Arc, published 18 February 2021, whether that policy paper remains her policy.

This government has put sustained economic growth at the heart of its agenda and recognises that Oxford to Cambridge has a key role to play in delivering on these ambitions. The Oxford to Cambridge region adds over £110 billion to the economy each year, which is underpinned by the area’s world class research, development and innovation strengths. I recognise the region’s potential to make even more of a contribution to the UK economy and government is determined to make this happen. Our commitment to deliver East West Rail, which will connect Oxford, Milton Keynes, and Cambridge, will be central to this ambition.

Communities and Local Government, what data her Department collects on resident satisfaction with local government.

The Local Government Association carries out a triannual survey of resident satisfaction with local government across Great Britain. The data is published and available here.

Communities and Local Government, with reference to her Department’s policy paper entitled Planning Reform Working Paper: Development and Nature Recovery, published on 15 December 2024, and pursuant to the Answer of 3 January 2025 to Question 20226 on Environmental Impact Assessment, whether Environmental Outcomes Reports will involve carbon reporting of (a) proposed new construction and (b) embedded carbon in existing buildings.

The powers secured through the Levelling-up and Regeneration Act 2023 would allow Strategic Environmental Assessment and Environmental Impact Assessment to be replaced with a new framework of Environmental Outcomes Reports.The government is committed to securing better environmental outcomes alongside securing the development we need and will consider how best to reform environmental assessment with this objective in mind. Alongside, reforming building regulations, we will carefully consider how Environmental Outcomes Reports can be used to support our wider carbon reduction targets. In the meantime, the current legislation on environmental assessment and its supporting guidance continues to apply.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 19 December 2024 to Question 20283 on Chinese Embassy: Planning Permission, on what date officials met representatives of the People’s Republic of China; whether special advisers were in attendance; whether representatives of other Departments were in attendance; and whether minutes were kept of the meeting.

MHCLG officials attended meetings with representatives of the People’s Republic of China in January, April and December 2024, alongside officials from the FCDO. No special advisers were in attendance.The purpose of attending these meetings was to explain the operation of the UK planning system and answer related queries. The merits of the proposed application for a new embassy were not discussed. Other clarification meetings took place with London-based embassy staff between May and October 2024.

Communities and Local Government, from what source the £2.5 million released for Eden Project North in July 2024 came; and whether the decision to release the funding was taken by the previous administration.

I can confirm that in November 2024 the department approved the Full Business Case for the £50 million of HM Government funding.We are all keen to see the delivery impact of this investment as soon as possible. Funding will be released in line with delivery milestones.The £2.5 million relates to the development phase funding to assist in detailed design and other activities that enable Lancaster City Council to progress delivery. This development funding decision was made in February 2024 and forms part of the approved grant for the project.Lancaster City Council are currently progressing with the detailed design and cost assessment of the project. Key resources such as design teams and projects managers have been procured, and the project is progressing in line with key milestones. My officials continue to work closely with Lancaster City Council to support delivery.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 5 December 2024 to Question 16496 on Housing: Construction, how many homes are being delivered under each round of the Brownfield Land Release Fund (a) 1 and (b) 2; and what is the target deadline for delivery in each (i) fund and (ii) round.

The Brownfield Land Release Fund (BLRF) is supporting the release of land that will deliver up to 20,789 homes. A breakdown of funding tranches and delivery deadlines is set out below. Name of roundFundingHousing Capacity of Land ReleasedLand release deadlineBLRF1£65m6,564March 2024BLRF2/1£35m2,407March 2027BLRF2/2£67m6,531March 2027BLRF2/3£68m5,287March 2028

Communities and Local Government, with reference to the written statement of 18 December 2024 on Local Government Finance Settlement, HCWS342, whether the Local Audit Office will itself undertake local government audits; and whether local audit will be undertaken by the private or public sector.

The government’s local audit strategy is seeking views on whether and how to grow public provision, including how to ensure that provision achieves overall growth without reducing private sector capacity.Consideration is also being given as to whether the Local Audit Office (LAO) should have the power to provide some level of public provision or if the provision should sit separately, and to the role of the Secretary of State and LAO in determining the appropriate proportion of public provision for the market.

Communities and Local Government, what her timetable is for releasing funds for the Eden Project North.

I can confirm that in November 2024 the department approved the Full Business Case for the £50 million of HM Government funding.We are all keen to see the delivery impact of this investment as soon as possible. Funding will be released in line with delivery milestones.The £2.5 million relates to the development phase funding to assist in detailed design and other activities that enable Lancaster City Council to progress delivery. This development funding decision was made in February 2024 and forms part of the approved grant for the project.Lancaster City Council are currently progressing with the detailed design and cost assessment of the project. Key resources such as design teams and projects managers have been procured, and the project is progressing in line with key milestones. My officials continue to work closely with Lancaster City Council to support delivery.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 18 December 2024 to Question 18960 on Council of the Nations and Regions: National Identity, if she will make it her policy to champion (a) the English national identity and (b) pride in England as a constituent nation of the United Kingdom.

We want to see all of England access devolved power by establishing Strategic Authorities that can make key decisions to drive economic growth, preferably with a Mayor. This will ensure that all parts of England have the powerful voice they need in national policymaking through attending the Council of Nations and Regions and the Mayoral Council for England’s Mayors.

Communities and Local Government, with reference to the Written Statement of 6 January 2025, HCWS353, on Community Ownership Fund Round 4, how will the funds previously allocated to the Fund be utilised elsewhere.

The Community Ownership Fund has awarded a total of over £135 million to 409 projects across the United Kingdom. A further £8.5 million has been used to provide pre and post application support to projects via our development support provider, to allocate small revenue grants to projects ahead of applying to support them to procure professional services, to fund the evaluation of the effectiveness of the fund and on other administrative costs.The £6.5 million in unallocated funding and any funding returned by projects that have had to withdraw will be used to fund other key government priorities.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 16 December 2024 to Question 16954 on New Towns, what discussions she has had with local authorities on participation in the New Towns programme.

As per its Terms of Reference which can be found on gov.uk here, in developing recommendations to ministers, the New Towns Taskforce will engage with local stakeholders, including local authorities. The Taskforce will report in the summer.

Communities and Local Government, if she will list the programmes launched since 5 July 2024 requiring local authorities to bid for funding.

The government is committed to pursuing a comprehensive set of reforms for public services to return the local government sector to a sustainable position. This will be done in partnership with local government. We are inviting views on our objectives and principles for local government funding reform via a consultation that is open until the 12 February.In regard to Local Growth funding, this Government was elected on a manifesto that stressed a partnership approach with local authorities and an intention to stabilise the funding system by providing multi-year funding settlements and ending competitive bidding which was the requirement for funds such as Future High Streets Fund, Town Deals and the Levelling Up Fund.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 18 December 2024 to Question 18959 on Planning Authorities: Staff, whether she plans to provide funding for the ongoing salary costs of the 300 new planning officers in the 2026-27 financial year.

The government is committed to supporting local planning authorities. Any budgets and associated salary costs beyond 2025-2026 will be determined in the forthcoming Spending Review.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 12 December 2024 to Question 17829 on Combined Authorities, what guidance her Department has issued on whether a two-tier area currently with a county council and district councils will (a) form a combined authority for that county area or (b) be merged with another county area to form a combined authority.

The English Devolution White Papper states that for areas with two tiers of local government, before moving to a single tier, the government will establish Combined County Authorities but not Combined Authorities. Also, that we will legislate to ensure that Strategic Authorities can change structure should local government reorganisation take place, for example, changing from a Combined County Authority to a Combined Authority when a two-tier area becomes single-tier.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 19 December 2024 to Question 19363 on INTERREG Programme, whether any of the Interreg programmes are still operational.

All projects funded by 2014-20 INTERREG programmes had to complete delivery by December 2023. The ongoing work by MHCLG officials covered in the answer to Question 19363 is focused on closure of these programmes. The INTERREG PEACEPLUS programme continues to operate between communities in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, but MHCLG does not have a role in this programme.

Communities and Local Government, with reference to the Answer of 19 December 2024 to Question HL3240 on Chinese Embassy: Planning Permission, which (a) local authorities and (b) public bodies have submitted representations to the planning inquiry.

Representations have been submitted to the planning inquiry by The London Borough of Tower Hamlets. No representations have been submitted to the Planning Inspectorate by public bodies. Some public bodies have submitted representations direct to the Local Planning Authority. Representations can be viewed in the inquiry library which can be found here.

Communities and Local Government, what her policy is on the frequency at which local authorities can issue local newspapers.

The Code of Recommended Practice on Local Authority Publicity provides guidance to local authorities on the appropriate use of publicity. This includes the frequency of newsletters, newssheets or similar communications which seek to emulate commercial newspapers in style or content. Councils should not issue such communications more frequently than quarterly, apart from parish councils which should issue them no more frequently than monthly.Local authorities are required to have regard to this guidance in coming to any decision on publicity.