Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Local Infrastructure

Monday 16 May 2022 · 5 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 0 Partly answered 5 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Richard Fuller asked the Minister to push for an 'infrastructure first' approach, citing an example of delayed construction of a GP surgery in his constituency.
  • The Minister acknowledged the issue of second home ownership, noting the impact on communities and highlighting local councils' ability to increase council tax on second homes.
  • Tim Farron raised concerns about developers failing to meet obligations for on-site community facilities at a development in east Ipswich, prompting the Minister to express willingness to meet and discuss the matter.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Richard Fuller Con North Bedfordshire
NHS Local Government
Context

The MP is concerned about the implementation of an 'infrastructure first' approach in planning and house building, highlighting a specific case where a GP surgery was promised but not built.

Question

I encourage the Minister to push for an 'infrastructure first' approach with an example from my constituency. A developer proposed a new GP surgery in Biddenham years ago, giving land for it. All houses have been built, but no part of that new GP surgery has been built until later this year. Can the Minister assure me that the problem regarding interactions between health bodies and developers will be cleared up if he had already introduced 'infrastructure first'?

Answer from Stuart Andrew

Councils, health bodies and everybody else need to get much better at this. Local planning authorities and CCGs should work together to provide planned provision. Under our new levy councils will be able to borrow against future levy receipts to forward-fund infrastructure that is needed. I am arranging meetings with colleagues in the Department of Health and Social Care to discuss these issues.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The Minister did not provide concrete assurances or timelines for clearing up problems related to interactions between health bodies and developers.

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Q2 Richard Fuller Con North Bedfordshire
Housing
Context

The MP is concerned about second homes becoming a significant issue in communities, leading to local families being displaced.

Question

It is vital that infrastructure is provided before development. It is also important for houses given planning permission to be used as agreed. I am talking about second home ownership. Homes built for local families become second homes and lead to communities being hollowed out. Will the Minister look again at bringing in new change of use rules through the Levelling-up and Regeneration Bill, so that second homes fall under a separate category of planning use?

Answer from Stuart Andrew

I am dealing with the issue of second homes daily. Colleagues from around the country are raising it with me and highlighting their concerns for their communities. The Bill allows local councils to increase council tax on second homes, but there is more that we need to explore. I am holding a series of roundtables across the country.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The Minister did not commit to introducing new change of use rules for second homes or provide specific timelines.

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Q3 Tim Farron Lib Dem Westmorland and Lonsdale
Housing
Context

The MP is concerned about on-site community facilities not being delivered as promised by developers, using the St Clements development in east Ipswich as an example.

Question

On-site community facilities are vitally important. Last summer at the St Clements development in east Ipswich, Bovis, Vistry and Trinity Estate Management failed to meet many of their obligations for on-site facilities. The Foxhall community centre was meant to be brought back into use but has not been, and there are concerns over littering and lighting. Will the Minister meet me to discuss how we can hold developers accountable?

Answer from Stuart Andrew

I am happy to meet my hon. Friend. He is right: when communities think a development will bring benefits and it is not developed, trust erodes. Our Bill addresses this by ensuring more engagement and confidence that agreed provisions will be delivered.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The Minister did not commit to meeting the MP or providing specific actions for holding developers accountable.

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Q4 Tom Hunt
Local Government
Context

The MP is concerned about the impact of cuts on local planning departments, leading to a lack of professionals and inadequate services.

Question

Will the Minister wake up to the reality that since the 2010 election, cuts have run down the resources of every planning department in the country. There are not enough professionals being trained or available to provide adequate service. What will he do about the planning authorities across this country that cannot deliver for the public?

Answer from Stuart Andrew

One of the points of the infrastructure levy is that it takes out the necessity for negotiation. It will be a set levy that developers cannot wriggle out of, and it will be for local authorities to set the levy. We are looking at broader issues raised by the hon. Gentleman.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The Minister did not provide specific actions or commitments regarding addressing under-resourced planning departments.

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Q5 Barry Sheerman Lab
NHS Housing Local Government
Context

The MP is concerned about the implementation of an 'infrastructure first' approach, citing a case where a GP surgery was promised but not built.

Question

I encourage the Minister to push for an 'infrastructure first' approach with an example from my constituency. A developer proposed a new GP surgery in Biddenham years ago and gave land for it. All houses have been built, but no part of that new GP surgery has been built until later this year. Can the Minister assure me that the problem regarding interactions between health bodies and developers will be cleared up if he had already introduced 'infrastructure first'?

Answer from Stuart Andrew

Councils, health bodies and everybody else need to get much better at this. Local planning authorities and CCGs should work together to provide planned provision. Under our new levy councils will be able to borrow against future levy receipts to forward-fund infrastructure that is needed. I am arranging meetings with colleagues in the Department of Health and Social Care to discuss these issues.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The Minister did not provide concrete assurances or timelines for clearing up problems related to interactions between health bodies and developers.

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