§ Mr. LoveTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what representations he has received on setting targets for affordable housing in regional planning guidance; and if he will make a statement. [128908]
§ Mr. RaynsfordThe Secretary of State published his proposed changes to the South East and East of England draft Regional Planning Guidance in March this year. The260W consultation period finished on 19 June and the responses are still being analysed. Over 500 representations have been analysed as of 3 July. Of these some 100 have pressed for targets for affordable housing in regional planning guidance. However, this Government have made it clear that assessments of local housing needs are matters for local authorities to undertake in light of their local circumstances.
§ Mr. LoveTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what estimate he has made of the current unmet need for affordable housing in(a) London and (b) England; and if he will make a statement. [128902]
§ Mr. RaynsfordWhile the Government have from time to time commissioned studies of the extent and nature of housing need to inform their views on the requirement for affordable housing in England, they believe that neither national nor regional estimates can adequately reflect the wide diversity of needs and priorities which exist at the local level. For these reasons, the Government believe that local authorities are best placed to carry out robust assessments of housing need in their areas.
§ Mr. PoundTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will (1) give local authorities greater discretion to secure affordable housing on sites for developments below the thresholds currently set out in Circular 6/96; and if he will make a statement; [129062]
(2) revise Circular 6/98 to reduce the threshold above which an affordable housing element can be secured through the planning system in (a) inner and (b) outer London; and if he will make a statement. [129064]
§ Mr. RaynsfordThe thresholds were in fact reduced by Circular 6/98. We have recently issued Planning Policy Guidance Note 3: Housing (PPG3) which reaffirms the detailed policy guidance on affordable housing in Circular 6/98 including the flexibility to facilitate lower thresholds in areas of special need outside Inner London. We have no plans at present to revise the guidance.
§ Mr. PoundTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what recent representations he has received on reducing the threshold set out in Circular 6/98 for securing affordable housing through the planning system; and if he will make a statement. [129067]
§ Mr. RaynsfordWe received a number of representations about affordable housing in response to the consultation draft of revised Planning Policy Guidance note 3: Housing. Of these, 23 raised the question of the thresholds set out in Circular 6/98.