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Housing: North Somerset
03 November 2020
Lead MP
Liam Fox
Debate Type
Adjournment Debate
Tags
HousingBenefits & Welfare
Other Contributors: 1
At a Glance
Liam Fox raised concerns about housing: north somerset in the House of Commons. A government minister responded. Other MPs also contributed.
How the Debate Unfolded
MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said:
Lead Contributor
Opened the debate
MP Liam Fox raised concerns about the housing crisis in North Somerset, noting a population increase of over 50% since 1971 and highlighting that developers have not met annual targets. He argued against unrealistic housing numbers set by government planning edicts and emphasised the need for infrastructure investment to match housing supply. He proposed developing brownfield sites, change of use from offices/shops to dwellings, and rejected North Somerset's obligation to compensate for unmet needs in Bristol. The MP stressed the importance of a realistic methodology linking local demographics with constraints such as green belt areas, flood plains, and protected zones.
John Penrose
Con
Weston-super-Mare
MP John Penrose supported his colleague's argument, urging the government to consider building more homes in central towns rather than in rural areas. He also suggested that local authorities should have more flexibility in setting development codes for higher density and better-looking buildings.
Government Response
Minister Christopher Pincher acknowledged the concerns raised by MPs regarding housing numbers. He outlined the government's long-term vision in their planning White Paper, emphasising community engagement, fairer contributions from developers through an infrastructure levy, and a focus on affordability. The minister also addressed concerns about geographical imbalances, mentioning stock renewal initiatives for regions like the industrial west midlands and north. Notable commitments include injecting £12.2 billion into house building over five years to build 180,000 new homes, around half of which will be affordable and social rent housing. The minister acknowledged the need for better infrastructure funding through an improved system of levies and expressed willingness to consider feedback on how to improve planning processes.
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Assessment & feedback
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About House of Commons Debates
House of Commons debates take place in the main chamber of the House of Commons. These debates cover a wide range of topics including government policy, legislation, and current affairs. MPs from all parties can participate, question ministers, and hold the government accountable for its decisions.