Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of allowing local authorities in seriously water-stressed areas scope to prioritise water supply constraints over housebuilding when considering their own local housebuilding targets above and beyond those mandated by national government.
The Government does not set housing targets, our standard method is only the starting point for determining need. Local authorities should already be considering water supply when planning for housing; a key part of preparing local plans is ensuring that development is supported by necessary infrastructure. Co-ordination with infrastructure providers and other statutory consultees is crucial to this process.