Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:

To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, if he will make an assessment of the potential financial impact on homeowners of nearby (a) sewage systems and (b) highways not being completed.

It is for local planning authorities to make an appropriate assessment of infrastructure and its effect on residents. Equally, it is for local planning authorities to determine whether enforcement action is appropriate where infrastructure provision, subject to Section 106 agreement or subject to planning condition, is not delivered.

Specifically on sewage, Section 94 of the Water Industry Act 1991 places a duty on a sewerage company to maintain public sewers, and water services regulation authority Ofwat can take enforcement action if a company is in breach.

The Government will continue to look at national policy on this matter to ensure, rightly, our infrastructure continues to support communities up and down the country.