Written questions by Wrigley.

Communities and Local Government, if the Government will appoint a Minister for Coastal Communities.

As the Minister for Local Growth my role is to promote economic growth in all parts of the country including coastal communities. Our coastal economies and communities add unique value to the country and offer significant growth potential.As set out in the English Devolution White Paper we will give local leaders powers to drive forward Local Growth Plans to accelerate regional growth and productivity. This will drive the government’s central mission of economic growth and put more money in people’s pockets.

Communities and Local Government, if she will take steps to incorporate (a) environmental and (b) animal welfare considerations for applications for factory farms.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 25146 on 29 January 2025.

Communities and Local Government, with reference to the report by the Electoral Commission entitled Report on the 2024 UK Parliamentary general election and the May 2024 elections, what steps her Department is taking to implement the recommendations in that report on postal voting.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 17831 on 12 December 2024.

Communities and Local Government, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of removing financial borrowing rules for local authorities for council house building.

Local authorities set their own capital strategies and are free to determine their own borrowing limits within the Prudential Framework.The government is helping local authorities borrow at a reduced cost from the Public Works Loan Board to support council housebuilding in the Housing Revenue Account. The preferential rate of gilts+0.4% rate will be in place to the end of 2025-26.We will bring forward details of future government investment in social and affordable housing at the multi-year Spending Review this year.

Communities and Local Government, what steps she plans to take to deliver more affordable homes annually in rural areas.

The government is committed to delivering the biggest increase in social and affordable housebuilding in a generation. We will set out details of new investment to succeed the 2021-26 Affordable Homes Programme at the Spending Review. This new investment will deliver a mix of homes for sub-market rent and homeownership, with a particular focus on delivering homes for Social Rent.The revised National Planning Policy Framework published on 12 December 2024 includes a number of changes designed to support the delivery of social and affordable homes. These include new Golden Rules for development on the Green Belt. Prior to development plan policies for affordable housing being updated in accordance with the revised NPPF, the affordable housing contribution required to satisfy the ‘Golden Rules’ is 15 percentage points above the highest existing affordable housing requirement that would otherwise apply to the development, subject to a cap of 50%. We estimate that under this model, the median Green Belt local planning authority affordable housing requirement will be 50%.Outside of the Green Belt, it is for local authorities to assess the size, type and tenure of housing needed for different groups in the community, including those who require affordable housing, and to reflect this in their planning policies. However, the government have made clear that authorities should consider the particular needs of those who require Social Rent homes when undertaking needs assessments and setting policies on affordable housing requirements.The government is committed to strengthening the existing system of developer contributions to ensure new developments provide necessary affordable homes and infrastructure. Further details will be set out in due course.We are giving further consideration to how policy can better promote rural affordable housing as part of our work to produce a set of national policies for decision making in 2025.

Communities and Local Government, what steps she plans to take to allow more empty premises to be used.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to Question UIN 6686 on 14 October 2024.

Communities and Local Government, when she plans to publish the homelessness strategy.

Homelessness levels are far too high. This can have a devastating impact on those affected.The Deputy Prime Minister is leading cross-government work to deliver the long-term solutions we need to get us back on track to ending all forms of homelessness. This includes chairing a dedicated Inter-Ministerial Group, bringing together ministers from across government to develop a long-term strategy.We expect to publish the strategy following the conclusion of Phase 2 of the Spending Review.

Communities and Local Government, if she will make it her policy to prohibit landlords from requiring more than one month's rent in advance.

The Renters’ Rights Bill already makes such provision. I refer the hon. Member to the Report Stage proceedings on 14 January 2025.

Communities and Local Government, if she will make it his policy to introduce a requirement that a minimum proportion of large developments should be social rented housing.

The revised National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) published on 12 December includes new Golden Rules for development on the Green Belt. Prior to development plan policies for affordable housing being updated in accordance with the revised NPPF, the affordable housing contribution required to satisfy the ‘Golden Rules’ is 15 percentage points above the highest existing affordable housing requirement that would otherwise apply to the development, subject to a cap of 50%. We estimate that under this model, the median Green Belt local planning authority affordable housing requirement will be 50%.Outside of the Green Belt, it is for local authorities to assess the size, type and tenure of housing needed for different groups in the community, including those who require affordable housing, and to reflect this in their planning policies. However, the government have made clear that authorities should consider the particular needs of those who require Social Rent homes when undertaking needs assessments and setting policies on affordable housing requirements.

Communities and Local Government, what discussions she has had with the National Park Authorities on the English Devolution White Paper.

The Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government has not met with any National Park Authorities in relation to the English Devolution White Paper. The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government will continue to work with the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs, other Government Departments and local government as we take forward the commitments in the English Devolution White Paper.

Communities and Local Government, what steps she is taking to support the building of social housing in Devon.

I refer the hon. Member to my answer to Question UIN 11383 on 31 October 2024.

Communities and Local Government, how she plans to roll out additional funding for social homes announced in the Autumn Budget 2024.

At the Budget on 30 October 2024, the Chancellor announced a one year top up of £500 million to the Affordable Homes Programme. Bidding is already open to local authorities and other social landlords through Homes England and the Greater London Authority. In addition, at the multi-year Spending Review, the government will set out details of new investment to succeed the 2021-26 Affordable Homes Programme. This new investment will deliver a mix of homes for sub-market rent and homeownership, with a particular focus on delivering homes for Social Rent.

Communities and Local Government, whether she plans to devolve further powers to (a) town and (b) parish councils.

Local authorities act independently of central government. Town and parish councils can work with other tiers of local government to determine how they can best serve their communities in their area. The English Devolution White Paper was clear that we know people value the role of governance at the community scale, and that this can be a concern when local government is reorganised. We will therefore want to see stronger community arrangements when reorganisation happens in the way councils engage at a neighbourhood or area level.

Communities and Local Government, what steps she plans to take to (a) consult and (b) integrate Dartmoor National Park Authority into future local government reorganisation around Devon.

We will invite councils to prepare proposals for reorganisation and when developing these proposals it will be essential for councils to work with local partners, including National Park Authorities, to develop plans for sustainable unitary structures capable of delivering the high-quality public services that residents need and deserve. We will consult a range of stakeholders in areas where we receive proposals for reorganisation as required by statute.

Communities and Local Government, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of creating new unitary authorities on district council housing allocations in the South West.

Strategic policy making authorities, which are normally district councils (in two tier areas), metropolitan districts councils and unitary authorities, are responsible for planning for local housing needs.The government intends to legislate to create a universal system of strategic planning throughout England. Once this system is established, it is anticipated that Spatial Development Strategies (SDS) will distribute housing needs across the strategic planning area in line with existing or planned infrastructure.In all areas, local plans will need to be in general conformity with the SDS.

Communities and Local Government, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of using alternative voting systems to first past the post for new local authorities.

The Government has no plans to change the voting system for local council elections.

Communities and Local Government, how parameters set out in section 2.2.1 of the English Devolution White Paper, will be applied to Devonshire.

In September last year, this Government confirmed the establishment of a non-mayoral Combined County Authority with Devon and Torbay, in line with the devolution deal agreed with that area under the previous government. This was an important first step as we continue to consider options to deepen and widen devolution in the area.As set out in the White Paper, we want to see all areas, including Devon, access the strongest powers set out in new Devolution Framework.We will work with local leaders, both before and after local elections, to deliver on these ambitions. This government would consider postponing elections only where the relevant local authorities explicitly request it, and where this will help the area to deliver both reorganisation and devolution to the most ambitious timeframe.

Communities and Local Government, what steps she plans to take to merge (a) the 8 Devon districts and (b) Devon County Council into unitary councils with Torbay and Plymouth.

Following the publication of the English Devolution White Paper on the 16 December, I wrote to all councils where there is a two-tier structure of local government and to their neighbouring unitary councils, to set out further details on the Government's ambitions for local government reorganisation. Within that letter I set out my intention “to formally invite unitary proposals in January 2025 from all councils in two-tier areas, and small neighbouring unitary councils.”

Communities and Local Government, whether her Department plans to seek the approval of local councils before establishing new (a) foundation strategic authorities, (b) mayoral strategic authorities and (c) established mayoral strategic authorities; and whether she plans to introduce secondary legislation to implement these proposals.

The Government has announced its intention to introduce new Mayoral Combined Authorities and Mayoral Combined County Authorities with elections in May 2026. This will require the consent of all constituent local authorities involved, using the processes set out in the Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Act 2009 and Levelling Up and Regeneration Act 2023. These areas, and other new and existing devolved institutions in England, will be designated as Strategic Authorities when the English Devolution Bill comes into force. The government is fully committed to working in partnership with councils to bring about devolution by establishing new strategic authorities, and to creating a clear pathway to accessing higher levels of devolution, including Established Mayoral Strategic Authorities. We will set out in the English Devolution Bill more detail on how we will seek the consent of constituent councils under this new legislation, which will be laid in this Parliamentary session.

Communities and Local Government, for what reason the minimum population to become a Foundation Strategic Authority is different for (a) new unitary councils and (b) London boroughs.

The assumed population threshold for all levels of Strategic Authority is 1.5 million or above, but we accept that in some places, smaller authorities may be necessary.As set out in the English Devolution White Paper, new unitary councils must be the right size to achieve efficiencies, improve capacity and withstand financial shocks. For most areas, this will mean creating councils with a population of 500,000 or more, but there may be exceptions to ensure new structures makes sense for an area, including for devolution, and decisions will be on a case-by-case-basis.As individual councils, London boroughs will not be designated as Strategic Authorities. The Greater London Authority will be designated as the Strategic Authority for London.