Moved by
Lord Crisp
191B: Before Schedule 7, insert the following new Schedule—
“SCHEDULE
Healthy homes
Policy statement on healthy homes principles
1 The Secretary of State must prepare a statement in accordance with this schedule (the “policy statement on healthy homes principles”).
2 The statement must explain how the healthy homes principles are to be interpreted and applied by Ministers of the Crown and relevant responsible authorities in making, developing and revising their policies.
3 The statement may explain how the principles will be implemented and adhered to in a way that takes account of a building development’s urban, suburban or rural location.
Meaning of “healthy homes principles”
4 In this Act “healthy homes principles” means the principles that—
(a) all new homes should be safe in relation to the risk of fire,
(b) all new homes should have, as a minimum, the liveable space required to meet the needs of people over their whole lifetime, including adequate internal and external storage space,
(c) all main living areas and bedrooms of a new dwelling should have access to natural light,
(d) all new homes and their surroundings should be designed to be inclusive, accessible, and adaptable to suit the needs of all, with particular regard to protected characteristics under the Equality Act 2010,
(e) all new homes should be built within places that prioritise and provide access to sustainable transport and walkable services, including green infrastructure and play space,
(f) all new homes should secure radical reductions in carbon emissions in line with the provisions of the Climate Change Act 2008,
(g) all new homes should demonstrate how they will be resilient to a changing climate over their full lifetime,
(h) all new homes should be secure and built in such a way as to minimise the risk of crime,
(i) all new homes should be free from adverse and intrusive noise and light pollution,
(j) all new homes should not contribute to unsafe or illegal levels of indoor or ambient air pollution and must be built to minimise, and where possible eliminate, the harmful impacts of air pollution on human health and the environment, and
(k) all new homes should be designed to provide year-round thermal comfort for inhabitants.
Policy statement on healthy homes principles: process
5 The Secretary of State must prepare a draft of the policy statement on healthy homes principles.
6 The Secretary of State must consult such persons as the Secretary of State considers appropriate in relation to the draft statement.
7 The Secretary of State must lay the draft statement before Parliament.
8 If, before the end of the period of 21 sitting days beginning with the day after the day on which the draft statement is laid—
(a) either House of Parliament passes a resolution in respect of the draft, or
(b) a committee of either House, or a joint committee of both Houses, makes recommendations in respect of the draft,
the Secretary of State must produce a response and lay it before Parliament.
9 The Secretary of State must lay before Parliament, and publish, the final statement, but not before—
(a) if paragraph 8 applies, the day on which the Secretary of State lays before Parliament the response required by that subsection, or
(b) otherwise, the end of the period of 21 sitting days beginning with the day after the day on which the draft statement is laid before Parliament.
10 The Secretary of State may revise the policy statement on healthy homes principles at any time (and paragraphs 5 to 11 apply in relation to any revised statement).
11 “Sitting day” means a day on which both Houses of Parliament sit.
Policy statement on healthy homes principles: effect
12 A Minister of the Crown must have regard to the healthy homes principles when making, developing or revising policies dealt with by the statement.
13 Relevant responsible authorities must have regard to the policy statement on healthy homes principles when discharging their duties under the planning, building, and public health acts.
14 “Relevant responsible authorities” include but are not limited to—
(a) local planning authorities;
(b) public health authorities;
(c) urban development corporations;
(d) new town development authorities;
(e) the planning inspectorate;
(f) Homes England.
Annual monitoring
15 The Secretary of State must prepare a progress report for each annual reporting period.
16 A progress report for an annual reporting period is a report on progress made in that period about the extent to which all new homes approved and completed during that period have met the healthy homes principles under paragraph 4.
17 A progress report must include specific consideration of how the approval and creation of new homes has met the needs of those with protected characteristics under section 4 of the Equality Act 2010 (the protected characteristics).
18 A progress report must include consideration of how progress could be improved.
19 The Secretary of State must arrange for each progress report to be—
(a) laid before Parliament, and
(b) published.”