Oral Answers to Questions

Rebecca Harris Excerpts

Monday 14th September 2015 Commons Chamber

[Andrew Stephenson (Pendle) (Con)]

9. What support his Department is providing to local authorities to encourage development of brownfield land.

[Rebecca Harris (Castle Point) (Con)]

11. What steps he is taking to encourage development on brownfield land.

[Pauline Latham (Mid Derbyshire) (Con)]

15. What support his Department is providing to local authorities to encourage development of brownfield land.

--- Later in debate ---

[James Wharton]

The Government are setting up a brownfield fund, with £1 billion, and are introducing the brownfield register. We have an expectation that homes will be built, because the country needs them, and that they will be built in the right places, particularly on brownfield sites. My hon. Friend makes a very important point on behalf of individual sites in his constituency about the approach of his local authority. I am sure it will have heard him loud and clear on a matter that his constituents will be very keen to see resolved.

[Rebecca Harris]

I welcome the Government’s redoubled commitment to support the development of brownfield sites. Does the Minister agree that, with the help of the Government’s new measures and extra effort by local authorities, brownfield sites can be developed more quickly and easily than by leaving large areas of green belt to be developed by large-unit developers, whose business model is not resulting in many houses?

[James Wharton]

My hon. Friend makes an important point, informed by her own direct experience. It is important that local authorities do not just plan to deliver the future houses we need in the right places, but ensure that the plans are deliverable. There are examples of best practice across the country, with local authorities delivering completions and the new housing needed, and I know that other authorities will look to them to see what lessons can be learned and what they can do in their own areas.