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

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what recent assessment he has made of the effectiveness of (a) the small sites exemption and (b) vacant building credit as part of planning policy in respect of developing new residential homes on brownfield land; and if he will make a statement.

Developing brownfield land continues to be a priority for Government. In 2015-16 there was a four per cent increase in the proportion of new residential addresses created on previously developed land to 61 per cent.

The Vacant Building Credit, which is part of Government policy on Section 106 planning obligations, was introduced to incentivise development on brownfield land and bringing empty buildings back into use. An independent review of Community Infrastructure Levy, including its relationship with Section 106 planning obligations, was commissioned by Government in 2015 and reported to Ministers in October 2016. Government is reviewing the recommendations of the review group and will make further announcements in due course.