Tag: Department for Levelling Up

The press release issued by the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities on 24 May 2024.

Homeowners will receive more rights, power and protections over their homes under the Leasehold and Freehold Reform Act which has become law today.

The Act will make it easier and cheaper for leaseholders to buy their freehold, increase standard lease extension terms to 990 years for houses and flats, and provide greater transparency over service charges. The Act will also remove barriers for leaseholders to challenge their landlords’ unreasonable charges at Tribunal.

It will further ban the sale of new leasehold houses other than in exceptional circumstances, end excessive buildings insurance commissions for freeholders and managing agents, and scrap the requirement for a new leaseholder to have owned their house or flat for two years before they can buy or extend their lease.

The new powers also grant freehold homeowners on private and mixed tenure estates the same rights of redress as leaseholders, and equivalent rights to transparency over their estate charges, and help more leaseholders take over the management of their property if they want to. Leaseholders in some buildings are barred from taking over the management of the site or buying its freehold if more than 25% of its floor space is commercial – such as shops or offices on the ground floor. But this limit will now be increased to 50% to enable more homeowners to access Right to Manage or the right to a collective enfranchisement.

The Act – which has officially received Royal Assent – strengthens existing, and introduces new, consumer rights for homeowners by:

• Making it cheaper and easier for people to extend their lease or buy their freehold so leaseholders pay less to have more security in their home.
• Increasing the standard lease extension term to 990 years for houses and flats (up from 50 years in houses and 90 years in flats), so leaseholders can enjoy secure ownership without the hassle and expense of future lease extensions.
• Giving leaseholders greater transparency over their service charges by making freeholders or managing agents issue bills in a standardised format that can be more easily scrutinised and challenged.
• Making it easier and cheaper for leaseholders to take over management of their building, allowing them to appoint the managing agent of their choice.
• Making it cheaper for leaseholders to exercise their enfranchisement rights as they will no longer have to pay their freeholder’s costs when making a claim.
• Extending access to redress schemes for leaseholders to challenge poor practice. The government will require freeholders, who manage their building directly, to belong to a redress scheme so leaseholders can challenge them if needed – managing agents are already required to belong to a scheme.
• Making buying or selling a leasehold property quicker and easier by setting a maximum time and fee that for home buying and selling information.
• Granting homeowners on private and mixed tenure estates comprehensive rights of redress, so they receive more information about what charges they pay, and the ability to challenge how reasonable they are.

The Act will further benefit leaseholders by:

• Scrapping the presumption that leaseholders pay their freeholders’ legal costs when challenging poor practice that currently acts as a deterrent when leaseholders want to challenge their service charges.
• Banning opaque and excessive buildings insurance commissions for freeholders and managing agents, replacing these with transparent and fair handling fees.
• Banning the sale of new leasehold houses so that, other than in exceptional circumstances, every new house in England and Wales will be freehold from the outset.
• Removing the requirement for a new leaseholder to have owned their house or flat for 2 years before they can extend their lease or buy their freehold.

The press release issued by the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities on 24 May 2024.

Five areas in England and Scotland have agreed details of their Levelling Up Partnership funding.

Boston, Stoke-on-Trent, Wakefield, the Scottish Borders and Tendring were previously announced as areas which would receive a Levelling Up Partnership to support regeneration.

In Boston we are investing £13m in regeneration and improving access to community sports facilities, including £7m for Boston Leisure Centre and £3.2m to complete Boston United’s community sports complex which supports young people and will include 30 affordable homes. Alongside this, we are investing over £1.5m for projects to support community groups and boost tourism and £2.8m for Boston College to acquire and develop the Haven Wharf site to open a digital and creative campus.

In Stoke-on-Trent, we are supporting the city by investing almost £6.5m to regenerate the historic and heritage buildings; investing £2.5m to improve recreational facilities and create a new wellbeing campus; and fund the redevelopment of a 19th century building in Burslem, bringing the building back into public use.

In Wakefield we are investing over £10m to support regeneration and boost skills, including renovating the Grade II listed Crown Court, £3.25m for Production Park to support the creation of 200 high skilled jobs, £1.5m for the Hepworth Art Gallery and a public art walking route; and building a new voluntary and community sector hub in the city centre.

In the Scottish Borders, we are investing over £11m to support local economic development, including hotel development in Galashiels, Crook Inn Bunkhouse, purchase of business units in Eyemouth, and a brownfield fund pot for Hawick. £2.3m will support the bus network, and £6m will support refurbishment and retrofitting of buildings, youth services and village halls.

Subject to local Cabinet approval, Tendring’s Levelling Up Partnership will likely include measures such as £3m to redevelop Clacton Leisure Centre to provide sports facilities and integrated health and wellbeing services,  £2m to unlock the delivery of an urgent treatment centre and primary care facility at Clacton Hospital, and £2.5m to provide a new walking route across Tudor Fields, alongside other interventions to support regeneration.

All the Levelling Up Partnerships will be subject to business case.

The press release issued by the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities on 21 May 2024.

Planning rules coming into force today make it easier to convert unused farm buildings into new homes, farm shops and gyms.

Farmers will be able to convert their unused buildings into new homes and shops thanks to new planning laws coming into effect today.

The major changes give farmers across England greater freedoms to diversify and grow their business, without having to spend time and money submitting a planning application.

They will be able to convert agricultural buildings and land into new lucrative business opportunities, such as outdoor sports facilities, larger farm shops and farm training centres, as well as housing, thanks to the changes to permitted development rights coming in today.

These new powers come in a week after the Farm to Fork Summit, where the Prime Minister reiterated the Government’s commitment to backing farmers who keep this country fed. The changes coming into force will give them new freedoms to diversify if they choose to.

Minister for Housing, Planning and Building Safety Lee Rowley said:

Farmers are the lifeblood of communities, and these changes give them the freedom to grow their businesses, and plan for their futures.

This is all part of our Long-term Plan for Housing to deliver more homes for rural communities and reform the planning system, removing unnecessary barriers to development.

Farming Minister Mark Spencer said:

I am extremely pleased to support our farmers and provide them the freedom to decide the best uses for buildings on their land, without needless bureaucracy holding them back.

We are listening to farmers and putting them at the heart of future development of our rural areas. Helping farmers secure their businesses and get on with the important job of producing food is our top priority.

Permitted development rights provide more freedoms to develop without applying for planning permission.

From today, the Government is extending these rights to give farmers greater freedoms to diversify and convert agricultural buildings to commercial uses, as well as up to 10 homes, without needing to submit a planning application. These rules are subject to space and natural light conditions, to ensure homes are suitable. This will help turbocharge rural housing development, with just 5,000 homes delivered on farming land since April 2014*.

The changes will:

• Double the amount of floorspace that can change from agricultural to ‘flexible commercial use’ from 500 square metres to 1,000 square metres.
• Increase the size of new buildings or extensions that can be built on farms over 5 hectares from 1,000 square metres to 1,500 square metres.
• For smaller farms increase the size of such development from 1,000 square metres to 1,250 square metres.
• Double the number of homes that can be delivered through the conversion of agricultural buildings from five to 10.
• Protect nationally important archaeological sites (scheduled monuments) by removing the ability for extensions to be built and new buildings erected in the vicinity.

The amendments deliver on one of the pledges made by the Prime Minister at the Farm to Fork Summit in May last year, to cut red tape and streamline the planning system for farmers, as well as support the wider rural economy.

The press release issued by the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities on 11 May 2024.

The UK Government hosted the 4th Islands Forum on the Isle of Anglesey/Ynys Môn in Wales on 8 May 2024 to discuss housing delivery for island communities.

On Wednesday 8 May representatives from participating islands across the UK joined the Levelling Up Secretary Michael Gove, with ministers and senior officials from the Welsh Government, Scottish Government and Northern Ireland Executive, and local MP for Ynys Môn Virginia Crosbie to discuss housing.

The fourth Islands Forum focussed on the housing challenges faced by islands wherever they are in the UK, such as the additional costs of construction and pressures caused by higher numbers of holiday homes and seasonal demand.

Attendees discussed pioneering and dynamic approaches to tackling housing challenges, shared best practices and lessons, and ways effectively to deploy powers and funding, including using expanded council powers to tackle second and vacant homes and working with local development trusts to build new housing units. Participants also agreed on the importance of ensuring UK Government levelling up funding programmes are supporting work to increase housing and regeneration.

This builds on significant progress from previous forums, including the establishment of a Connectivity Task and Finish Group and a new £1.6 million UK Government project to help improve vital transport links for island communities. £3 million has also been awarded to the Orkney-based European Marine Energy Centre (EMEC) over two years – the world’s first and leading wave and tidal energy testing facility, with a further role in green hydrogen development. Ministers visited its facilities at the inaugural Islands Forum hosted in Orkney in 2022.

The Islands Forum is an important part of UK Government’s programme to level up the whole of the UK. It is now a well-established and effective forum for member councils to meet with UK and devolved governments, to discuss common challenges and share learning.

The Levelling Up Secretary Michael Gove chaired the Forum on behalf of the UK Government and was supported by the Levelling Up Minister Jacob Young.

The devolved governments were also represented, with Northern Ireland Executive Minister John O’Dowd MLA and Welsh Government Minister Rebecca Evans MS taking part. The Scottish Government was represented by Erica Clarkson, Head of Islands Policy. Virginia Crosbie, MP for Ynys Môn, and Rhun ap Iorwerth, MS for Ynys Môn, also attended. They were joined by council leaders and representatives from:

• Cyngor Sir Ynys Môn / Isle of Anglesey County Council
• Comhairle nan Eilean Siar/Western Isles Council
• Orkney Islands Council
• Shetland Islands Council
• Highland Council
• North Ayrshire Council
• Argyll and Bute Council
• Isle of Wight Council
• Council of the Isles of Scilly
• Rathlin Development & Community Association

Attendees also had an opportunity to visit the MSparc Science and Technology Park, to see Anglesey’s innovative work on skills, energy, and housing. Recognising the importance of the Welsh language to the Isle of Anglesey, Levelling Up Secretary of State Michael Gove explored a virtual reality village developed by Animated Technology to practise his Welsh language skills.

The next Islands Forum in Autumn 2024 will be hosted by Argyll and Bute Council.

The press release issued by the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities on 10 May 2024.

Dundee announced as first place in Scotland to benefit from tailored Levelling Up Partnerships .

Dundee has been chosen as the first area in Scotland to benefit from a major tailored regeneration programme designed to support communities across the UK.

The city will receive a £20 million Levelling Up Partnership from the UK Government designed to root out inequalities by attracting investment and increasing opportunities for local people, including by building a new Dundee and Angus College campus to boost skills.

The investment will help tackle barriers to growth and turbo-charge regeneration, and the UK Government will be working hand-in-hand with local leaders to ensure this makes a major difference to people’s lives. This investment follows the £2.6 million for the V&A Dundee announced at Spring Budget.

Levelling Up Partnerships, first announced in the 2023 Spring Budget, are bespoke regeneration programmes targeted in areas that have too often been ignored. The government uses them to level up skills and opportunities, improve people’s quality of life, and address deep-rooted local challenges, giving these areas the best possible chance to thrive. The partnership for Dundee follows similar announcements for places in England including Hull and Mansfield.

In Scotland, the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) and the Scottish Government have collaborated to identify a methodology for which areas most need investment, and how best to address inequalities. The other areas in Scotland that have been selected for LUPs are the Scottish Borders, Argyll and Bute, and Na h-Eileanan Siar (Western Isles). Scottish areas receiving LUPs have been chosen based on a number of metrics, with emphasis on the tough challenges posed by rural geography.

UK Government Levelling Up Minister Jacob Young, who visited Dundee on Thursday, said:

“It’s fantastic to announce our tailored regeneration programme has been rolled out in Scotland for the first time, beginning by transforming the lives of people right across Dundee.

“This Levelling Up Partnership will allow us to tackle the historical issues faced by this city head-on, ensuring overlooked communities get what they need to fully reach their potential.”

The funding for Dundee will help unlock a key development on the Waterfront to provide Grade A office space and lever in more investment, refurbish vacant and underused buildings in the city, build a legal education centre to boost opportunities, and provide support for people struggling with addiction.

UK Government Minister for Scotland John Lamont said:

“Our Levelling Up Partnership with Dundee – backed by £20 million UK Government investment – is a real game changer for driving regeneration in the city and boosting opportunities.

“Collaborative working between the UK and Scottish Governments and local leaders means the lives of people living in, working in and visiting Dundee will be transformed with exciting initiatives such as new educational centres specialising in digital, green skills, health, social care and life sciences; improved access to housing; better transport connectivity; improved city streets; tackling anti-social behaviour and substance abuse and attracting business to the area.

“I look forward to seeing Dundee and the three other areas in Scotland that have each been allocated £20 million for Levelling Up Partnerships – the Scottish Borders, Argyll and Bute, and Na h-Eileanan Siar –  benefiting from the fruits of this funding.”

Dundee’s £20m Levelling Up Partnership includes:

• £5m backing for Dundee and Angus College, including £4.5m to build a new campus providing training opportunities in the digital, green skills, energy transition and construction sectors, and £500,000 for a new health and social care training facility
• £3m towards the creation of new Grade A office development on the Waterfront
• £2.5m for grassroots projects focused on enhancing opportunities for young people, improving safety and benefitting the community
• More than £2m to improve access to housing and boost regeneration in the city centre, including by refurbishing vacant properties, and reviewing the condition of the local private rented sector
• £2m to develop a specialist centre for protein science in the Life Sciences Innovation District
• £1.2m to develop a bespoke permanent home for the Dundee Museum of Transport
• £1.1m to establish a legal tech education centre and workspace
• £500,000 to complete a 26-mile active travel route around the city, connecting neighbourhoods on the outskirts with each other and the centre

Dundee City Council leader Cllr John Alexander said:

“As a city, we’ve been working extensively in the background to attract and deliver investment, public and private, and to create jobs and economic growth.

“With Dundee already featuring in positive ratings, such as a top 20 UK destination for foreign direct investment (FDI), a top city break destination and attracting world-renowned opportunities such as the Eden project, the future is bright.

“We welcome the £20 million of investment through the Levelling Up Partnership, which will strengthen the efforts by all local partners to transform Dundee and the lives of people across our city.

“Although Dundee’s challenges are well known, I believe that the opportunities that exist for the future significantly exceed these.

“Organisations in Dundee are working together to create the conditions that will enable growth and prosperity in the years ahead.

“There is a realisation that we cannot do this alone, and that is why we have been in discussions with both the UK and Scottish Governments for strategic investment to drive Dundee’s economy forward.”

The LUP also includes £1m to help transform the Eastern Quarter by improving its streets, tackling anti-social behaviour and attracting new business; £1m to refurbish the fabric of historic buildings and bring vacant spaces in the city centre back into use; £500,000 to help tackle substance abuse; £200,000 to develop the next phase of the City Centre Strategic Plan, attracting investment to the city; and £120,000 for commercial training and networking to support high-potential businesses.

This funding builds on almost £23m of wider UK Government levelling up investment in Dundee, which has received more than £14m from Round 2 of the Levelling Up Fund for a new green transport hub in the city centre featuring electric vehicle charging points, and £5.6m from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund for projects including improvements to the district centre of Perth Road and digital skills training opportunities.

The press release issued by the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities on 9 May 2024.

The Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities has won a landmark legal challenge against freeholder Grey GR.

• Court rules in favour of government in legal case forcing freeholder Grey GR, owned by Railpen, to fix safety issues at Vista Tower
• Judgment gives tower residents assurance through the Court that their homes will be made safe without further delay
• The Vista Tower case was the first legal action brought by the Government under powers introduced through the Building Safety Act

The Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities has won a landmark legal challenge against freeholder Grey GR forcing it to fix serious building safety issues in Vista Tower in Stevenage.

Legal action was launched by the Government against Grey GR in October 2022 following unacceptable delays in fixing multiple serious fire safety issues, first identified in the building in 2019.

Grey GR is ultimately owned by Railpen, a scheme that manages £34bn in assets.

Following the trial in March, the Court has decided in favour of the Government and will issue a Remediation Order imposing a legally binding requirement on Grey GR to fix building safety issues within a mandated timeframe.

Levelling Up Secretary Michael Gove said:

Leaseholders have lived with uncertainty for far too long while Grey GR delayed essential works to make homes safe. This decision is a victory for leaseholders in Vista Tower and across the country.

It is hugely disappointing that Railpen – the ultimate owner of Grey GR and who manage £34bn in ‘assets’ – has kept leaseholders in limbo in this way. Railway workers with their pensions invested in this fund, as well as innocent leaseholders, deserve better.

This court case should serve as a warning to all building owners. If you fail to fix your unsafe buildings and ensure the safety of residents, we will see you in court. We will not stop until we secure justice for leaseholders.

Sophie Bichener, leaseholder in Vista Tower said:

I am very pleased to see this remediation order has been made. This gives leaseholders the reassurance we deserve and is the closest we have been to regaining our freedom after what has been an extremely difficult few years.

We thank the Secretary of State for bringing this remediation order – it will have a huge impact on our lives and we hope our involvement in this case will bring hope to many others who are waiting for their freeholders to do the right thing and make their homes a safe place to live too.

The Vista Tower case was the first legal action brought by the Government under robust new powers introduced through the Building Safety Act 2022.

Following commencement of legal action, Grey started work on Vista Tower in January 2024. The Remediation Order will provide an exact date by which the work must be completed or Grey could face sanction by the Court.

The Government is also seeking remediation orders on a further five Grey GR buildings that have or will be going to trial over the next year. This includes The Chocolate Box in Bournemouth where, as a result of government legal action, Grey has now started remediation works.

The Government has also already secured four remediation orders against freeholder Wallace Estates, benefitting approximately 400 leaseholders that had faced delays to remediation.

Councils, fire and rescue services and the Building Safety Regulator all have powers under the Building Safety Act to take enforcement action against building owners not complying with their obligations and discharging their responsibilities to leaseholders.

The press release issued by the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities on 8 May 2024.

Ahead of the fourth UK Islands Forum hosted on the Isle of Anglesey in Wales today, the UK Government has announced new funding to support island communities.

• Island communities across the UK to benefit from new £1.6 million UK Government funding to help improve vital transport links
• The UK Islands Forum Connectivity Project will deliver an enhanced evidence base, improving capability for island local authorities
• A further £3 million also awarded to Orkney-based European Marine Energy Centre – the world’s first and leading wave and tidal energy testing facility
• Announcements come ahead of 4th UK Islands Forum chaired by Michael Gove on Anglesey today, building on the millions of pounds already invested by UK Government to level up island communities across the UK

Island communities across the UK will benefit from a new £1.6 million project funded by the UK Government to improve vital transport links, helping to support local jobs and grow the economy.

Levelling Up Secretary Michael Gove made the announcement as local authorities from islands across the UK gathered for the fourth UK Islands Forum in Anglesey.

The UK Islands Forum Connectivity Project will look at identifying options to improve transport in these distinct parts of the UK, which are often reliant on air and ferry services due to their geographical location. Good transport connectivity is essential for the prosperity of island communities and the local economy, but there are significant challenges and gaps in the island transport data and evidence needed to support investment cases.

The Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) and Department for Transport (DfT) are leading the project jointly, combining local and levelling up knowledge with specialist transport skills and expertise.

Together they will create the first-ever UK-wide evidence-base on island transport connectivity, providing the UK’s islands with new data and insights to improve capacity and capability. The project will also provide better evidence to support future investment decisions to drive innovation and levelling-up to meet shared priorities.

The UK Government is also providing £3 million to the Orkney-based European Marine Energy Centre (EMEC) over two years – the world’s first and leading wave and tidal energy testing facility, with a further role in green hydrogen development.

Ministers visited its facilities at the inaugural Islands Forum hosted in Orkney in 2022. This new funding will help EMEC to deliver the UK’s Net Zero ambitions, increase innovation and investment in research and development, and drive the levelling up agenda and green growth.

Levelling Up Secretary Michael Gove said:

Our islands contribute so much to the UK, and we value everything that’s distinct about them.

These projects have been made possible by the successful collaboration through our UK Island Forum, with our fourth event taking place on the Isle of Anglesey/Ynys Môn today.

The forum gives island leaders the chance to discuss the unique issues that matter most to their communities, and I am thrilled to see our discussions paving the way for vital change in areas like transport and driving forward green growth on islands.

These new projects are the direct result of fruitful discussions at past Island Forums hosted by the UK Government.

Island transport connections were a key theme at the last Islands Forum on the Isle of Lewis last October, and discussions resulted in the Levelling Up Secretary Michael Gove proposing a new ‘task and finish’ group to explore the topic in-depth.

The group, which includes representatives from UK and devolved governments and member councils, have since met regularly to identify common transport issues and potential solutions – and now, with the launch of this new £1.6 million project, the UK Government will be empowering and equipping these island leaders to spearhead change.

Levelling Up Minister Jacob Young said:

The Islands Forum has been a wonderful innovation that has helped to put our island communities at the heart of UK Government policy-making and make sure that their voices are heard.

Being in North Wales this week has allowed me to see for myself the levelling up investment that is already making a difference and to hear from local leaders and residents on Anglesey about the issues that matter most to them.

The forum comes alongside the UK Government’s levelling up support for island communities across the UK, such as:

• £20m Levelling Up Partnership with Argyll and Bute part of which will support island communities there
• £20m Levelling Up Partnership with the Western Isles
• £20m Towns Funding and £13.6m Green Link funding on the Isle of Wight
• £20m Towns Funding for Kirkwall and £282,000 Community Ownership Fund for The Pund, Ronaldsay in Orkney
• £26m for Fair Isle ferry works and £550,000 Community Ownership Funding for the Fair Isle Bird Observatory in the Shetland Islands
• £6m capital funding for a museum and cultural centre in the Isles of Scilly

The press release issued by the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities on 6 May 2024.

New requirements will be brought forward for single sex toilet facilities in new non-domestic buildings to alleviate safety, privacy and dignity concerns.

The new legislation follows the results of a consultation on the proposals, where responses showed 81% agreed with the intention for separate single-sex toilet facilities and 82% agreed with the intention to provide universal toilets where space allows.  A universal toilet is self-contained, and a fully enclosed toilet room with a wash hand basin for individual use.

Responses highlighted particular concerns from women, elderly and the disabled who felt unfairly disadvantaged as publicly accessible toilets are increasingly being converted into gender neutral facilities where users share cubicle and hand-washing facilities. This leads to increasing waiting in shared queues, decreased choice and less privacy and dignity.

The new requirements will mean everyone can access appropriate facilities either through a separate single-sex space or a self-contained, universal toilet.

Changes to building regulations will mean that new non-domestic buildings, including restaurants, shopping centres, offices and public toilets will be required to provide separate single-sex toilets for women and men. Self-contained, universal toilets may be provided in addition, where space allows, or instead of single-sex toilets where there isn’t enough space.

In addition to single-sex toilets becoming the default for new non-domestic buildings and places undertaking major refurbishment, the policy encourages provision of self-contained universal toilets, which are a fully enclosed toilet room with a washbasin and hand-drying facilities for individual use.

Minister for Women and Equalities Kemi Badenoch said:

These regulations will guide organisations to design unisex and single-sex toilets, ending the rise of so-called “gender-neutral” mixed sex toilet spaces, which deny privacy and dignity to both men and women.

Today’s announcement will also create better provision for women so that our particular biological, health and sanitary needs are met.

This is following our work last week limiting the use of mixed-sex wards in the NHS and demonstrates how this government is committed to ensuring single-sex spaces are protected for all.

Housing Minister Lee Rowley said:

We know all members of society value safety, privacy and dignity, and this new legislation will help ensure the right facilities are in place for everyone.

It is vital that new buildings, particularly in public spaces, are serving the community with right toilet provision.

The government is clear that single-sex spaces are essential for ensuring privacy and dignity for the elderly, women, and girls.

The move comes following a set of announcements of firm action to protect spaces for women and girls, such as the government’s introduction of a new NHS constitution which put patient safety and dignity at the heart of care, including reinforcing the NHS’s commitment to providing single-sex wards. It also follows the Minister for Women and Equalities’ call for examples of organisations issuing incorrect guidance on single-sex spaces.

In addition, the Department for Education re-enforced that schools are required to comply with minimum standards, including that separate toilets for boys and girls aged 8 years and over are to be provided. While colleges are not subject to the same legal requirements, they should take the same approach given the same safeguarding considerations apply.

Changes to building regulations will ensure that:

• separate single-sex toilets facilities are provided for men and women
• self-contained, universal toilets may be provided in addition to single-sex toilets, where space allows
• self-contained universal toilets may be provided instead of single-sex toilets only where lack of space reasonably precludes provision of single-sex toilet accommodation

Further information

The new requirement will apply to new non-domestic buildings, or buildings which undergo a material change of use, with some exceptions.

These exemptions are:

• residential homes
• en suite facilities in individual rooms for residential purposes
• residential rooms in care homes
• premises used wholly or mainly for early years provision
• schools
• cellular accommodation in custodial facilities

While separate toilet facilities for boys and girls aged 8 years or over must already be provided in schools, except where the toilet facility is provided in a room that can be secured from the inside and that is intended for use by one pupil at a time.

The changes will affect England only.

In the Building Regulations 2010 Part T and Approved Document T, the phrase universal toilets is used. This refers to self-contained, private toilets, which are a fully enclosed toilet room with a wash hand basin for individual use.

The press release issued by the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities on 11 March 2024.

Strengthened 100% council tax premium on long term empty homes comes into force on 1 April, with councils able to spend the money from the next financial year.

Sharpened rules to double council tax on long term empty properties will come into force from 1 April, supporting local people in areas where high numbers of empty homes are preventing them from finding affordable housing.

The rules will apply when a property has been empty for 12 months, rather than the current two years. Councils will be given new powers to introduce the tax premium on second homes in their area from next year, bringing in millions more for public services or keeping overall council tax bills down.

The Department for Levelling Up today confirmed a very limited number of exceptions have been set out following a public consultation, which will ensure the changes are fair to homeowners. These will apply to empty properties that are uninhabitable due to extensive renovation, second homes that are not available for use year-round due to planning restrictions or for up to a year on homes that have been inherited to prevent families who are grieving from having to pay.

The consultation response gives homeowners clarity so they can plan for the changes before they take effect, while councils will be able to budget for millions more to spend on public services.

Minister for Local Government Simon Hoare said:

“Long term empty properties are shutting local families and young people out of the housing market as they are being denied the opportunity to rent or buy in their own community.

“So, we are taking action as part of our long-term plan for housing. That means delivering more of the right homes in the right places and giving councils more powers to help give local people the homes they need.”

This follows reforms to give councils greater power to control short-term lets by making them subject to the planning process which will protect people from being pushed out of their local areas, preventing a “hollowing out” of communities and ensuring local people can continue to live in the place they call home.

The changes are part of the government’s long term plan for housing, unlocking more of the homes this country needs and meeting the target to deliver one million homes this Parliament, backed by £10 billion investment.

The press release issued by the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities on 7 March 2024.

Top planning barrister, (Lord) Charles Banner KC, will lead an independent review to look into speeding up the delivery of major infrastructure projects, confirmed by the Housing Minister and Secretary of State today.

The review builds on wider government reforms to streamline the process for Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects (NSIPs), which are often held up by legal barriers and judicial reviews.

Banner, assisted by fellow barrister Nick Grant, will explore whether NSIPs are unduly held up by inappropriate legal challenges, and if so what are the main reasons and how the problem can be effectively resolved, whilst guaranteeing the constitutional right to access of justice and meeting the UK’s international obligations.

Even unsuccessful challenges can set major projects back years in delays. This includes new road improvements, offshore wind farms and waste water management facilities.

Housing Minister, Lee Rowley said:

“It is vitally important that we use every tool at our disposal to slash unnecessary planning delays and accelerate building where it is needed across the country.

“That is why I am delighted that (Lord) Banner will lead a review on how we can speed up the delivery of national infrastructure in the face of costly legal challenges. I look forward to the outcome of this crucial piece of work.”

(Lord) Charles Banner KC said:

“I am looking forward to analysing the information available, as well as the feedback from key stakeholders, to ascertain whether, within the terms of reference, there is a case for improving the process for legal challenges of NSIPs in a way that would reduce any identified impacts of inappropriate legal challenges whilst maintaining constitutional principles and relevant international obligations.”

Banner is a leading expert in planning and environmental regulation. He has already demonstrated excellent work for the Government on a number of panels, such as chairing the UK’s nature conservation advisory body the Joint Nature Conservation Committee.

As part of the review, Banner will produce a written report with recommendations based upon the review’s research and engagement with key stakeholders.

This review was announced at the Autumn Statement in the policy paper ‘Getting Great Britain building again: Speeding up infrastructure delivery’. It is expected to take 3 months and the Government will consider the recommendations once published.

Biography

(Lord) Charles Banner KC was called to the Bar of England & Wales in 2004 and to the Bar of Northern Ireland in 2010. He was appointed Queen’s Counsel in 2019 (at the age of 38, the youngest of the 2019 silks). He practices across both jurisdictions as well as internationally.

Nick Grant is on the Attorney General’s C-panel of counsel and specialises in planning and infrastructure, compulsory purchase, and environmental law.