Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Rebecca Pow and Rachael Maskell

Thursday 31st October 2019 Commons Chamber

[Rachael Maskell (York Central) (Lab/Co-op)]

13. Bad planning is leading to more and more ill-thought-through developments in the heart of York, resulting in the poor air quality in our city worsening. What steps will the Minister take to ensure that planning departments in local government really comprehend the consequences of their actions?

[Rebecca Pow]

Tackling air quality is closely linked to what happens in the planning system, particularly when it comes to housing. Officials in the two Departments have recently collaborated on developing planning guidance. I recently wrote to Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government Ministers to urge much closer collaboration on, for example, housing and housing design, because all the emissions from housing affect climate change. This is all about cross-working.