Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether she has had recent discussions with the Secretary of State for Transport on ensuring that constraints on the strategic road network do not prevent local authorities from delivering housing targets set out in their local plans.

The Secretary of State regularly engages with cabinet colleagues on matters of strategic importance.

The government recognises the importance of ensuring that new housing development is supported by infrastructure, including transport. The National Planning Policy Framework sets out that the purpose of the planning system is to contribute to the achievement of sustainable development, including the provision of supporting infrastructure.

A key function of local development plans is to address infrastructure requirements, including how any schemes are to be funded and brought forward. This aspect of plans is publicly examined by an independent Inspector to determine whether a local plan is sound and can be adopted.

To further underpin this objective the government provides financial support for essential infrastructure in areas of greatest housing demand through Land and Infrastructure funding programmes, such as the Housing Infrastructure Fund.