Tag: Department for Levelling Up

The press release issued by the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities on 9 December 2022.

The press release issued by the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities on 8 December 2022.

Over £1 billion will be guaranteed to Suffolk and Norfolk to invest in their communities as the Levelling Up Secretary signs landmark devolution deals.

Historic devolution deals which transfer money and power over building, regeneration and skills into the hands of local leaders in Suffolk and Norfolk will be signed by Levelling Up Secretary Michael Gove today.

Suffolk and Norfolk will be devolved power over their Adult Education budget, so they can shape provision in a way that best suits the needs of residents and the local community, get immediate support to build new affordable homes on brownfield sites, handed new powers to help drive regeneration, and receive more capital funding to spend as they see fit.

The deals will also see well over a billion pounds combined handed out to Suffolk and Norfolk, with the huge investment funds guaranteed for the next three decades. This will give each region the ability to drive growth and plan for the long-term with certainty as they look to level up and unlock their economic potential.

From May 2024, both counties will directly elect the leader of the council, which not only provides a single person accountable to local people but gives them a champion for their areas who can attract investment and be a stronger voice in discussions with central government.

The Levelling Up Secretary will attend signing ceremonies in both Suffolk and Norfolk as he continues to lead the government’s devolution revolution. Last week saw Cornwall sign its own devolution deal with the government, unlocking powers and long-term funding of £360 million. Deals agreed with Suffolk and Norfolk mean that 50% of England will now be covered by a devolution deal and reaffirms the government’s commitment in the Levelling Up White Paper to offer a devolution deal to any area that wants one by 2030.

Speaking ahead of deal signing ceremonies in Suffolk and Norfolk today, Levelling Up Secretary Michael Gove MP said:

Empowering strong local leadership is key to levelling up and ensuring we spread opportunity and unlock the economic potential of communities across the country.

I am delighted to sign two further historic deals for Suffolk and Norfolk that will see communities handed hundreds of millions of pounds to use as they – not Whitehall – see fit.

Ultimately it is local people who know what is best for their areas and it is my job to make sure local leaders have the levers to address the issues unique to them.

Cllr Matthew Hicks, Leader of Suffolk County Council, said:

This devolution deal is the first of its kind between the Government and a county council, making it a truly historic moment for Suffolk. The deal recognises Suffolk’s ambitions, would put more powers in the hands of local people and bring more than half a billion pounds of investment into the county.

On the table are greater decision-making powers around transport, infrastructure, skills and more resources to help us achieve our net zero ambitions. Ultimately, this significant additional investment will improve the lives and outcomes of Suffolk’s residents.

Devolution is a journey, not a one-off event. This deal for Suffolk is the first step towards an exciting future for our great county.

Norfolk County Council leader, Councillor Andrew Proctor, said:

I’m delighted that Norfolk is well positioned to gain additional powers and money to improve people’s lives, thanks to the County Deal we have agreed in principle with the Government.

The aim is for decisions and funding previously controlled in Westminster to be agreed in Norfolk, for Norfolk.

Striking a deal will help us to boost our economy through jobs, training, housing and development, to improve our transport network and to support our environment.

Getting to this point shows that the Government sees Norfolk as a can-do county. I’m confident that we can make a success of this and that more powers and funding would follow.

The proposed deals will include:

• Suffolk deal: Suffolk will receive control of a £480 million investment fund over 30 years, as well as a multi-year transport settlement at the next Spending Review. The deal will unlock almost £6 million to regenerate brownfield land into affordable and beautiful homes, £3 million to improve energy efficiency and renewable generation in homes, and hand Suffolk greater compulsory purchase powers to help with regeneration. Suffolk will also be handed control over their Adult Education Budget.
• Norfolk deal: Norfolk is set to receive a £600 million investment fund over the same period, with almost £7 million to support regeneration of brownfield sites into affordable and beautiful homes for local people. They will also receive £5.9 million of capital funding in this Spending Review period to support the delivery of housing, regeneration, and development priorities, as well as control over their Adult Education Budget.

These deals are just the first steps in transferring power away from Whitehall into areas that want them. The East Anglian agreements mean that six of 13 places invited to negotiate devolution deals in the Levelling Up White Paper have now signed agreements with government. Suffolk and Norfolk join Cornwall, York and North Yorkshire, and the East Midlands as areas who have signed devolution deals this year – these deals equate to another five million people being covered by a devolution deal in 2022 alone.

The new deals are now subject to local consultation, a council resolution to change their governance model so that electors directly elect the council leader, and elements, such as the transfer of new powers, require parliamentary approval to secondary legislation. The deals envisage the election of the directly elected leaders in May 2024. Subject to the passing of the relevant measures in the Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill, Suffolk and Norfolk would call the directly elected person the “elected leader” of the County Council.

The press release issued by the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities on 7 December 2022.

The United Kingdom’s first Freeports in Plymouth, Solent, and Teesside are now fully up and running after receiving final government approval.

The United Kingdom’s first Freeports in Plymouth, Solent, and Teesside are now fully up and running after receiving final government approval today (Wednesday 7 December).

The Freeports becoming fully operational is a major milestone in the government’s mission to level up communities across the country and will help spread opportunity and drive economic growth.

Each of these Freeports will now receive up to £25 million seed funding and potentially tens of millions of pounds in locally retained business rates to upgrade local infrastructure and stimulate regeneration.

Businesses in Freeports can take advantage of tax incentives, unlocking much-needed investment and bringing high quality jobs in industries of the future to some of the nation’s most overlooked communities.

Combined, the first three Freeports are expected to bring millions of pounds in investment and thousands of highly skilled jobs, turbocharging local economies and benefitting the whole of the UK.

Levelling Up Minister Dehenna Davison said:

We are taking full advantage of the freedoms of leaving the EU and these Freeports in Teesside, Plymouth and South Devon and Solent will attract new business to often overlooked areas, creating thousands of jobs.

Now they are up and running, these Freeports will harness local expertise to grow vital industries and turbocharge our national economy.

Freeports will generate prosperity and spread opportunity throughout the UK by driving innovation and throwing open our doors to trade with the world.

The Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities has given the final greenlight for the Freeports which are set to receive up to £25 million each to drive local plans.

This means:

• Teesside can continue to drive investment and industrial growth in renewables, advanced manufacturing and the chemicals and process sectors, creating more than 18,000 highly skilled jobs in the northeast.

• Plymouth and South Devon will harness the region’s marine and defence expertise to deliver thousands of skilled jobs injecting millions of pounds of investment into the region.

• Solent will grow its ambitious maritime economy, making the Solent a thriving hub for the world’s marine and maritime sector.

Ben Murray, Maritime UK Chief Executive, said:

The freeport programme is catalysing economic growth and job creation in coastal towns and cities around the UK. We’re delighted to see the first three officially launched with ambitious plans to develop their local proposition for inward investment, innovation, and exports.

From marine autonomy to defence, advanced manufacturing to decarbonisation, these freeports will help strengthen our maritime clusters and grow our maritime sector; already one of Britain’s biggest industries. We look forward to continuing to work with government to harness the potential of maritime to accelerate levelling-up.

Richard Ballantyne OBE, Chief Executive, British Ports Association said:

Congratulations to the Plymouth, Solent and Tees Freeports as there has been a lot of hard work to get to this stage. We welcome the next chapter of this key economic policy and want to see Freeports work for their regions as well as the whole of the UK.

We believe strongly that the business benefits Freeport areas include will be pivotal in attracting new investment and jobs to our important coastal regions. This is an exciting time to be involved in the ports sector and we are pleased that policy makers see our industry as a focal point for levelling up.

Freeports benefit from a package of measures, comprising tax reliefs, customs advantages, business rates retention, planning, regeneration, innovation and trade and investment support.

We expect the remaining five English Freeports to join Plymouth, Solent, and Teesside in receiving final approvals shortly, and we remain committed to ensuring all four corners of the UK can reap the benefits of our Freeports programme.

The press release issued by the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities on 6 December 2022.

The government commits to launching a technical consultation to explore how local authorities demonstrate local support and respond to views of their communities when considering onshore wind development in England.

Decisions on onshore wind sites will continue to be made at a local level as these are best made by local representatives who know their areas best and are democratically accountable to the local community.

To deliver a more localist approach, and its commitments in the British Energy Security Strategy, the government will consult on proposed changes to national planning policy. This follows positive engagement with MPs.

Under the proposals, planning permission would be dependent on a project being able to demonstrate local support and satisfactorily address any impacts identified by the local community. Local authorities would also have to demonstrate their support for certain areas as being suitable for onshore wind, moving away from rigid requirements for sites to be designated in local plans.

Today’s announcement builds on previous Government action to make sure local communities are at the heart of decisions on onshore wind. Changes introduced in 2016 that made local councils responsible for onshore wind applications, instead of the Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project regime, will remain in place.

The Government will make sure strong environmental protections first brought in by the Government in 2015 remain, so that valued landscapes such as National Parks, Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty and the Green Belt are protected.

The government will also seek views on developing local partnerships for supportive communities, so that those who wish to host new onshore wind infrastructure can benefit from doing so, such as through lower energy bills.

New digital engagement techniques during the planning process will ensure people across the local community can continue to make their views known.

The government will also consider how the planning system can support communities to have a say on the necessary infrastructure to connect wind farms to the grid and encourage the upgrading of existing wind farm sites

The government will be inviting views from local authorities, communities and businesses.

The technical consultation on changes to the National Planning Policy Framework will be launched by Christmas and concluded by the end of April 2023.

The press release issued by the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities on 5 December 2022.

Further measures to place local communities at the heart of the planning system will be set out by the government tomorrow (Tuesday 6 December), delivering a number of commitments made by the Prime Minister over the Summer.

The changes will be made alongside the Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill as it progresses through Parliament and follow positive engagement with MPs and stakeholders.

The measures strengthen the government’s commitment to building enough of the right homes in the right places with the right infrastructure, ensuring the environment is protected and giving local people a greater say on where and where not to place new development.

Housing targets remain an important part of the planning system and the government will consult on how these can better take account of local density.

Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities Michael Gove said:

We have an urgent need in this country to build more homes so that everyone – whether they aspire to home ownership or not – can have a high-quality, affordable place to live. But our planning system is not working as it should.

If we are to deliver the new homes this country needs, new development must have the support of local communities. That requires people to know it will be beautiful, accompanied by the right infrastructure, approved democratically, that it will enhance the environment and create proper neighbourhoods.

These principles have always been key to our reforms and we are now going further by strengthening our commitment to build the right homes in the right places and put local people at the heart of decision-making.

I’m grateful to colleagues across the House for their hard work and support to drive forward these much-needed changes to create a planning system that works for all.

Responding to requests from MPs, the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities Michael Gove has also asked the Competition and Markets Authority to consider undertaking a market study on housebuilding. Buying a home is one of the most important decisions a family takes, with huge financial implications, so making sure this market is truly competitive and working in the interests of consumers is of the highest importance.

Many of the measures announced today deliver commitments made by PM Rishi Sunak over the summer. Green Belt protections will be strengthened, with new guidance setting out that local authorities are not required to review Green Belt to deliver homes. Brownfield land will be prioritised for development, with the government launching a review into how such sites are used.

Alongside measures in the Bill to tackle slow build out by developers, the government will also consider new financial penalties for companies failing to deliver housing despite having planning approval and give councils powers to refuse further permission across their area.

The Bill already includes power for councils to apply a council tax premium of up to 100% on empty and second homes in areas. But given concerns local people are often forced out of the market by short term lets, the government will go further by establishing a registration scheme for these properties.

The government will also consult on whether planning permission should be required for new short term lets, especially in tourist hotspots.

The government will ensure valued landscapes, such as National Parks, Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty and the Green Belt, remain protected through robust national and local planning policies.

The press release issued by the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities on 5 December 2022.

Thousands of vulnerable families will be protected from homelessness this winter thanks to an extra £50 million of government support.

Councils will have the flexibility to target the additional financial support at those who need it most. This may include helping households at risk of eviction pay off their rent arrears or supporting families struggling to secure a new home with their search and deposits.

The funding is on top of £316 million Homeless Prevention Grant already allocated to councils for 2022-23 year and is part of a £2 billion package of government support to tackle homelessness and rough sleeping over the next three years.

Minister for Housing and Homelessness, Felicity Buchan said:

We understand that many people are struggling this winter and we are taking action to protect vulnerable families at risk of homelessness this Christmas.

The increased support will make a real difference to those most at risk by helping them to pay their rents or find new homes.

This follows a £200 million Single Homelessness Accommodation Programme (SHAP), which will deliver up to 2,4000 homes by March 2025 for people already experiencing or at risk of experiencing rough sleeping. Details on how local authorities can apply for this funding will be published shortly.

Millions of vulnerable families will also benefit this winter from a wider raft of cost of living support from the Government, including assistance with energy bills and direct payments of £1,200.

The press release issued by the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities on 5 December 2022.

People across the country will benefit from £2.6 billion of investment as the UK approves spending plans for funding previously run by the European Union.

• UK Government approves local spending plans for UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF).
• UKSPF matches and succeeds EU funding in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland and gives local leaders greater say in how the money is spent.
• Funding will turbo-charge levelling up: supporting local businesses, boosting skills, reviving high streets and improving local pride.

People across the country will benefit from £2.6 billion of investment in skills, improved high streets, support for local business and more green spaces as the UK takes back control and approves spending plans for funding previously run by the European Union.

The UK Shared Prosperity Fund succeeds EU structural funding but instead of Brussels deciding how and where the money is spent, the UK Government has been working closely with local leaders in every corner of the UK to direct funding where it is most needed.

Under the spending plans approved today, England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are all receiving at least as much as they did before, while also being free from bureaucratic EU processes and having greater say in how the money is used.

Councils in England, Scotland and Wales have drawn up the plans with a wide range of local partners that deliver for people in their areas. They have chosen to spend the money on a range of initiatives, such as supporting people into decent jobs, helping local businesses to grow and fighting anti-social behaviour, and can now begin to deliver these. In Northern Ireland, DLUHC is managing the Fund and has developed a plan in close collaboration with councils, businesses and the community and voluntary sector.

Levelling Up Minister Dehenna Davison said:

“We are taking full advantage of being outside the European Union and unlocking billions of pounds of investment to help level up communities and spread opportunity across the UK.

“The UK Shared Prosperity Fund will have tangible benefits for people up and down the country, from a young entrepreneur in need of a helping hand or those who want to gain the skills they need to secure a decent, well-paid job.

“The UK government has worked closely with local leaders across England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, giving them a greater say in how this money is spent and ensuring funding is directed to where it is most needed.”

Across the UK, the money will be spent on levelling up in three key areas:

• Communities and place: projects could include improving parks and green spaces, sports facilities and access to arts and culture to foster a greater sense of pride in place.
• Supporting local business: this include support for entrepreneurs, as well as research and development grants for local businesses to help develop innovative products and services.
• People and skills: projects could include specialist support for people with a health condition facing additional barriers into decent jobs. This may include basic life skills, digital training and education in English and maths. As part of the Fund, a multi-million pound adult numeracy programme, Multiply, has been allocated across the UK to support people with no or low-level maths skills to improve their economic and life prospects.

The UK Government’s flexible approach also means that councils and local partners will have the opportunity to adapt each plan to reflect new economic priorities over the period to 2025.

Today, the UK Government is publishing the UKSPF Investment Plan for Northern Ireland, which set outs how the fund will be delivered. This has been designed to improve pride in place, increase life chances and support growth by investing in key priorities for Northern Ireland.

Funding for the UKSPF will be £2.6 billion between 2022 and 2025, with this figure reaching £1.5 billion per year by March 2025, delivering on the UK Government’s commitment to match EU structural funds for each nation.

Local areas across England will see £1.58 billion, Scotland £212 million, Wales £585 million and Northern Ireland £127 million made available under the fund.

The press release issued by the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities on 2 December 2022.

A landmark devolution deal will transfer new money and power into the hands of local leaders in Cornwall.

The press release issued by the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities on 30 November 2022.

The launch of a new pilot today (30 November) comes ahead of a wider rollout next year, when it will be the biggest Building Safety scheme in operation. It will be funded by the £3bn Building Safety Levy and cover buildings between 11-18m tall where the developer cannot be traced or held responsible for remediation work – for instance because they have gone out of business.

Approximately 60 buildings across England, which have interim safety measures in place, such as waking watches, will be invited to apply for the pilot from today.

The scheme builds on the significant progress made by the Secretary of State, Michael Gove to make buildings safe and protect leaseholders from unfair costs. This includes the existing Building Safety Fund for 18m+ buildings, the ACM Fund and pledges by developers to fund remediation of their own buildings, which are being turned into legally-binding commitments.

Minister for Local Government and Building Safety Lee Rowley said:

This is an important step forward for leaseholders who have been trapped in unsafe, unsellable homes with unfair costly repair bills for far too long.

Building owners have the responsibility to get essential cladding repairs done and this scheme will help ensure this happens.

We are taking action to protect innocent leaseholders and ensure they are safe and secure in their homes. I will be monitoring progress very closely as we work towards the launch next year.

Homes England will be running the pilot and ensuring that building owners or freeholders in targeted buildings get the help they need to assess and fix fire safety defects. There is also an opportunity for building owners in eligible medium-rise blocks to share their details ahead of the wider rollout to help them prepare and plan for the next phase of the scheme.

More details on eligibility and the application process for the full scheme will be announced next year. Buildings will be assessed through a fire risk assessment carried out in line with the British Standards Institute PAS 9980 standard, to ensure that recommended work is proportionate, and the funding is properly targeted.

Proposals for £3 billion Building Safety Levy, which will fund the scheme, are currently out for consultation. The Levy will run alongside pledges by 49 of the country’s biggest homebuilders have committed at least £2 billion to fix life-critical fire-safety cladding defects in buildings over 11 metres they had a role in developing in the last 30 years.

The press release issued by the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities on 26 November 2022.

Social housing tenants from across England will come together to make their voices heard and drive change, as the Government launches new resident-led panel.

Over 250 tenants will meet today (26 November) to launch the group that will directly influence the government’s plans on improving social housing conditions and bringing about sector change.

Members of the Social Housing Quality Residents will share their experiences with ministers, inform policy change and ensure resident voices are properly heard as the government drives forward its social housing reforms.

The launch follows the Housing Secretary’s action, announced this week, against Rochdale Boroughwide Housing (RBH) after it failed to treat hazardous mould leading to the tragic death of Awaab Ishak.

In a crackdown on poor standards, Michael Gove has stripped the housing association of new taxpayer funding for housing – until the Regulator of Social Housing has concluded its investigation and RBH can prove it is a responsible landlord.

This serves as a warning to other housing providers, with Gove prepared to take robust action against those that are letting down tenants.

Housing Secretary Michael Gove said:

This government will not stand for any tenant being mistreated and we are acting to ensure they get the safe and decent homes they deserve.

For too long, tenants have been denied a proper voice – this ends today. Our new residents panel will ensure that tenants are at the heart of reforms to social housing.

I look forward to working with the panel to drastically raise the standard of social housing across the country.

Housing Secretary Michael Gove and Minister for Social Housing Baroness Scott of Bybrook will attend the launch event to thank residents for their important contribution in the government’s work to improve social housing for tenants. Ahead of the launch, panel members from across the country have shared their views and hopes for the panel:

Emma from East of England said:

I would like to bring back the stronger relationships between tenants and their housing association.

Quality of repairs has also become an issue, things being replaced for a lesser quality and the tenant is supposed to accept it in their home.

Social landlords need to become more involved with their tenants and rebuild the fractured relationships.

Roy from the East Midlands said:

I have been an involved resident for nearly 12 years, and have worked tirelessly to improve the services provided by our landlord.

It’s not always been easy and on many occasions it has been very frustrating. But we saw a chink of light with the publication of the Social Housing White Paper, as we might at least be able to make the services supplied by our landlord fit for purpose

Abbey from the South East said:

I am passionate about improving social housing.  I’m a scrutiny panel member and a block rep, but this initiative had the possibility to create change on a larger and less local scale. I would like to make sure that voice is heard.

Karen from the South West said:

I want to help improve the condition of social housing and also help remove the stigma attached to social housing.

The panel forms part of the government’s commitment in the Social Housing White Paper to rebalance the relationship between tenants and landlords.

Residents will shape the direction of the panel, with options to cover topics like how to raise awareness of the complaints process, or improving tenants’ access to information about their landlords.