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

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what information he holds on when the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) will put in place legal agreements to facilitate the transfer of (a) HCA land to Peterborough City Council for the purposes of constructing a new secondary school and (b) adjacent land to developers for the construction of new homes at Paston Reserve, Peterborough; and if he will make a statement.

The Homes and Communities Agency is a member of a consortium that owns a proposed urban extension to the east of Peterborough, known as Paston Reserve. The first phase of the development was completed in 2016, providing 87 new homes, 25 of which are affordable homes.

In recognition of Peterborough’s need for secondary school provision the consortium has made a further planning application that will provide for a new school within the site, alongside new homes.

The HCA has been working with its partners to agree the terms of disposal for the land to be transferred to the Council, which is expected to take place in the new financial year.