Planning Reform Debate
Full Debate: Read Full DebateDepartment: Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
Max Wilkinson
Main Page: Max Wilkinson (Liberal Democrat - Cheltenham)Department Debates - View all Max Wilkinson's debates with the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
(1 day, 10 hours ago)
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Matthew Pennycook
It is difficult to make blanket statements about individual development sites. There are many reasons why sites across the country are held up, but sometimes they are legitimate reasons to do with viability. As I have said, we are experiencing a housing market downturn, although we are hopefully coming out of it with the assistance of some of these policies. Viability is a challenge across the whole country and is particularly acute in places such as London, but where development could be coming forward and is viable but developers are not proceeding with it, we want to look at further measures on build-out to ensure that it does come forward. We are providing central Government support through the new homes accelerator to unlock the large strategic sites that have already received consent. That is the low-hanging fruit when it comes to bringing forward new homes in this Parliament.
Max Wilkinson (Cheltenham) (LD)
The Minister knows that I share his enthusiasm for speeding up housing delivery, but that can only happen if we get the right infrastructure. He is aware, as I am, of the pressure around certain motorway junction upgrades, including at junction 10, which is adjacent to my constituency. Can he give me some reassurance that motorway junctions that are crucial to the upgrades that are required to deliver the housing that he so desires will not soon be scrapped?
Matthew Pennycook
I am aware of the case to which the hon. Member refers. There is considerable pressure on the housing infrastructure budget and the projects that remain within it. I am aware that in respect of this case, which he has raised with me previously, a material amendment has been submitted and is being considered. Obviously I will not comment on that, but I think his point shows that the Government do provide significant amounts of funding support for land and infrastructure across the country to help to ensure that those homes can come forward in the right places, with the right infrastructure and transport connections.