Source · Select Committees · Housing, Communities and Local Government Committee
Recommendation 6
6
Deferred
Paragraph: 29
Expedite M4(2) technical consultation process by BSR and Department, publishing responses quickly.
Recommendation
It is imperative that the Government’s M4(2) policy commitment is now implemented as soon as possible. If this is not done, thousands of disabled people will continue to be left with their housing needs unmet. Accordingly, we recommend that: • The BSR should launch the technical consultation immediately with an expedited timeline that is made public; • The BSR and the Department should allocate additional resources to ensure that the consultation response is published within a maximum of six weeks of the consultation closing date, rather than the planned 12 weeks; and • The BSR should complete the full technical consultation process within four months, rather than the six months currently planned.
Government Response Summary
The government rejects requiring local authorities to report on new builds completed to M4(2) and M4(3) standards due to imposing a new burden, and it does not address the specific recommendations to expedite the M4(2) technical consultation timeline.
Paragraph Reference:
29
Government Response
Deferred
HM Government
Deferred
22. The English Housing Survey collects data on the accessibility of homes and publishes national level information periodically. Local authorities should assess the size, type and tenure of housing needed for different groups in the community, including older people and people with disabilities, and reflect this in their Local Plan. The statistical series ‘Housing supply: net additional dwellings’ uses a simple data collection focused on providing an accurate measure of housing supply overall. To require local authorities to provide details on type and specifications of housing units would impose a new burden.