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2 Nov 2006 : Column 622W—continued
The proportions are variable from year to year. The average over a five year period is more representative for any comparisons between local authorities.
Mr. Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Hammersmith and Fulham, of 4 September 2006, Official Report, column 1661W, on housing, what the size of the clusters used is in the analysis; and whether the “clusters” are coterminous with local government wards. [95785]
Yvette Cooper: The “clusters” derived by the Office for National Statistics used in the DCLG house price index vary considerably in size from a few local authorities to over 40 local authorities.
Mr. Spellar: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Edmonton of 2 October 2006, Official Report, column 2537W, on housing, how much was allocated to each of the funding streams. [96090]
Yvette Cooper: That figure of £4.1 billion was derived from the investment amounts of various capital streams, as follows:
| £ million | |
| Capital stream | Funding |
The sum of the capital streams detailed in this table, £4.772 billion, is greater than the figure of £4.1 billion referred to in previous answers.
The figure of £4.1 billion took into account local authority HRA subsidy surpluses, recycled within the HRA subsidy regime and used in support of certain items. As recycled HRA subsidy surpluses are not direct Exchequer investment, but rather a benefit accruing from investment undertaken by the Exchequer in previous years, they were not included in the total capital investment figure referred to in previous answers.
The table includes the contribution to capital investment made by recycled HRA subsidy, because while this contribution may be deducted easily from the overall total, its exact value cannot be attributed to any one particular funding stream.
This investment in the table is a mixture of grant and supported borrowing and it should be noted that capital investment is not the same as capital expenditure. The figures in the table therefore constitute a mixture of direct grant and supported borrowing—where the Department gives the local authority money to assist them with the interest payments associated with borrowing money.
Alan Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the Standard Assessment Procedure rating requirement is for new house building in (a) social housing and (b) the private sector. [96591]
Yvette Cooper: There is a requirement to calculate and display a Standard Assessment Procedure rating whenever a new dwelling is created by building work.
The Standard Assessment Procedure is also used to calculate overall energy performance in terms of annual carbon dioxide emissions for new house building for compliance with building regulations. There is not a single figure for the target level of emissions because this depends on the size and shape of the building and on the fuel(s) used.
The building regulations set minimum standards. However all new homes receiving Government funding have to meet the higher EcoHomes Very Good 2006 standard that is also calculated using the Standard Assessment Procedure.
Alan Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many dwellings in England have a standard assessment procedure rating of (a) 65 or over and (b) 35 or below. [98688]
Angela E. Smith: The latest available data on the energy efficiency of the housing stock comes from the 2004 English House Condition Survey (EHCS). This shows that:
(a) 4.3 million (20 per cent. of) dwellings had a standard assessment procedure (SAP) rating of 65 or more and
(b) 2.9 million (13 per cent. of) dwellings had a SAP rating of 35 or less.
The method for determining SAP ratings has been updated from 2005. The 2004 EHCS estimates use the previous 2001 method and these estimates will be affected by the change in method. The updated 2005 method will be used to report findings from 2005 through the EHCS, detailed findings from which will be available by spring 2007.
Mr. Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many affordable homes have been built since 1990-91; how many more are planned in each year until 2009; and if she will make a statement. [97053]
Yvette Cooper: The following table shows the number of affordable homes that have been provided in each year since 1991-92 through Housing Corporation's Affordable Housing Programme, Local Authority Social Housing Grant, Starter Home Initiative and by local authorities.
| Number of affordable homes | |
| (1) Figures for 2006-07 and 2007-08 are estimates. Source: Housing Corporation and P2m/P2Q returns from local authorities | |
These figures include both new build and those acquired and refurbished for affordable housing.
We are on course to deliver the Spending Review 2004 targets of 30,000 social rented homes a year by 2008 and to help over 100,000 people into home ownership by 2010. The Housing Corporation has a target to deliver 28,000 social rented homes and 19,263 low cost home ownership homes through the Affordable Housing Programme in 2007-08 to contribute towards these targets. Other programmes will take this to 30,000 social rented homes and 24,000 low cost home ownership homes by 2007-08.
The number of homes to be provided from 2008-09 will be the subject of the Comprehensive Spending Review 2007 in which the provision of social rented homes will be a priority.
Helen Southworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government (1) what percentage of new homes built in (a) Warrington, (b) Cheshire and (c) the North West were (i) one or two bedroom apartments and (ii) affordable family houses in each of the last three years; and if she will make a statement; [97229]
(2) how many affordable family homes have been built in (a) Warrington, (b) Cheshire and (c) the North West in each of the last three years. [97230]
Yvette Cooper: Information on the percentage of new build dwellings by type and number of bedrooms is published on the Department for Communities and Local Government website: http://www.communities. gov.uk/pub/65/Table252Excel312Kb_id1156065.xls. The figures are only available at regional level.
The following table shows the numbers of newly built affordable housing units provided in Warrington, Cheshire and the North West. Information on how many of these were ‘family homes’ is not available centrally. During the three year period 2003-04 to 2005-06 a further 1,433 affordable housing units were provided in the North West region through refurbishment programmes which are not included in the numbers in the table.
| Warrington new build | Cheshire new build | North-west region new build | ||||
| New build affordable housing units | Proportion of total house building | New build affordable housing units | Proportion of total house building | New build affordable housing units | Proportion of total house building | |
| Note: Cheshire county includes the local authorities Chester, Congleton, Crewe and Nantwich, Ellesmere Port and Neston, Macclesfield and Vale Royal. Source: National House Building Council, Housing Corporation, Local Authorities. | ||||||
Through the Housing Corporation's Affordable Housing Programme for 2006-08 total allocations have been given to provide a further 3,800 affordable homes for social rent and low cost home ownership (both new build and acquisition and refurbishment) in the North West Region, of which around 400 will be provided in Cheshire and 40 in Warrington.
Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if she will reduce the housing unit threshold for requiring affordable housing in new rural communities. [97524]
Yvette Cooper: It is for local planning authorities to decide, taking account of their assessment of housing need, and other evidence about local circumstances, their approach to planning for affordable housing, including in rural areas. In the context of a national indicative minimum threshold of 15 units draft PPS3 says that local planning authorities may set lower thresholds for rural areas if this can be justified.
Final PPS3, will be published later this year.
Mrs. Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what recent estimate she has made of the (a) take-up and (b) occupation rates of accommodation built under the Government’s key worker living programme, broken down by Government Office region. [94856]
Yvette Cooper: As at 30 September, 4,167 homes for key workers have been built in London, South East and Eastern regions through the Key Worker Living programme, of which 3,183 have been sold/let with a further 165 reserved. Of the 819 homes currently being marketed, 619 of these have only been completed in the last three months including 487 which have only been completed in the last month, a further 139 homes are three-six months old and the remaining 61 are six-nine months old. These units are in the process of being marketed for sale/let and it normally takes between three and six months to market and sell a unit.
| Region | Total newbuild completions since April 2004 | Number of units sold/let | Units under offer | Number of units currently being marketed |
Helen Southworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many shared equity homes have been (a) built and (b) made available on the market in (i) Warrington and (ii) Cheshire in each of the last three years. [97227]
Yvette Cooper: The following table shows homes provided via the Housing Corporation’s Affordable Housing Programme and Local Authority Social Housing Grant through shared equity in both Warrington and Cheshire in each of the last three years.
| Warrington UA | Cheshire( 1) | |
| (1) Cheshire, for the purposes of this response, includes the following local authorities: Chester, Congleton, Crewe and Nantwich, Ellesmere Port and Neston, Macclesfield and Vale Royal. | ||
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