New Housing Access to Health Services 2025-03-03
2025-03-03
TAGS
Response quality
Questions & Answers
Q1
Direct Answer
▸
Context
Residents of Westvale Park, a new development of 1,500 homes in Chris Coghlan's constituency, have been waiting seven years for a GP surgery despite existing GPs being unable to expand their capacity. The community has been promised this service.
I am concerned about the residents of Westvale Park, who have been waiting seven years for a GP surgery despite the existing GPs not being able to expand their capacity. Will the Secretary of State meet me to discuss how we can ensure that Westvale Park gets the GP surgery it has been promised and other necessary infrastructure?
I sympathise with the hon. Gentleman; this Government have said that infrastructure must come as part of our 1.5 million homes commitment. The Housing Minister will be happy to meet him.
▸
Assessment & feedback
Response accuracy
Q2
Partial Answer
▸
Context
In North Cornwall, where house prices exceed local wages and many houses are second homes, more than 3,000 homes will be built by 2030. The GP surgery in the area is currently running at 150% capacity despite a promise of a new building.
In North Cornwall, house prices far exceed local wages and over 40% of houses are second homes. By 2030, more than 3,000 homes will be built in towns such as Bodmin, but the only GP surgery is running at 150% capacity despite a new building being promised for years. Will the Secretary of State ensure that national planning guidance mandates primary care and education infrastructure before developments start?
Again, I sympathise with the hon. Gentleman; our Government are absolutely committed to ensuring that we get that infrastructure through a plan-led system, which includes consulting on future policy changes this spring.
▸
Assessment & feedback
Response accuracy
Q3
Direct Answer
▸
Context
The Government produced new guidance about building on green-belt sites, including golden rules about sufficient health, education, and transport infrastructure. Sheffield now has to provide green-belt sites to meet housing targets.
Sheffield is being requested by the Planning Inspectorate to provide green-belt sites for housing development despite concerns over insufficient infrastructure such as GP surgeries and schools. Will the Secretary of State arrange a meeting between the Housing Minister, the council leader, local MPs, and other Department colleagues to discuss resource availability?
I can do better than that: the Housing Minister is going on Thursday.
▸
Assessment & feedback
Response accuracy
Q4
Partial Answer
▸
Context
Under the previous government, residents of Mickleover were promised a new GP surgery multiple times but it never materialized after new housing was built.
In Mickleover, under the last Government, residents were repeatedly promised a new GP surgery when new homes were built but this promise was not fulfilled. What can the current Government do to ensure that residents have access to a GP?
I totally sympathise; our Government are committed through the revised national planning policy framework, ensuring that infrastructure including GP surgeries is available when new housing is built.
▸
Assessment & feedback
Response accuracy
Q5
Partial Answer
▸
Context
NHS Property Services has been less effective in delivering promised health facilities within the timeframes set by section 106 agreements.
While section 106 agreements are good at securing funds for new NHS facilities, NHS Property Services has not always delivered these facilities on time. What assurance can the Secretary of State give that across Government there will be a focus on ensuring timely delivery?
We have set up a unit within my Department to hold developers accountable, working across Government to ensure that infrastructure is built. We will strengthen section 106 planning obligations.
▸
Assessment & feedback
Response accuracy