Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Brownfield Development

Monday 27 June 2022 · 4 questions

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

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 2 Partly answered 2 Not answered 0

Key points

  • The Government strongly encourage the use of brownfield land and have introduced new planning measures to make the best use of previously developed land while also boosting the delivery of new homes.
  • A total of 550 million has been allocated to the seven mayoral combined authorities in the country to support brownfield development initiatives.
  • The Secretary of State disagrees with the notion that all developable brownfield land has already been utilized, citing a national register identifying over 28,000 hectares of developable land, sufficient for one million homes.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Robbie Moore Con Keighley and Ilkley
Housing Local Government
Context

The question is prompted by the government's encouragement of using brownfield land for development. Robbie Moore seeks details about progress in this area.

Question

What progress his Department has made on promoting responsible development on brownfield sites. The Government strongly encourage the use of brownfield land and have introduced new planning measures to make the best use of previously developed land while also boosting the delivery of new homes.

Answer from Stuart Andrew

The Government strongly encourage the use of brownfield land and we have introduced new planning measures to make the best use of previously developed land while also boosting the delivery of new homes. A total of £550 million has now been allocated to the seven mayoral combined authorities in the north and midlands for brownfield development, including £120 million announced in the levelling-up White Paper.

Answered
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Q2 Robbie Moore Con Keighley and Ilkley
Housing Local Government
Context

A unique open area known as the green space in Keighley is under threat of being built on, despite other brownfield options. This has led to a public referendum.

Question

In the heart of Keighley we have a unique open area known as the green space, and the town council, local residents and I are all determined to keep it green. However, despite there being many other brownfield options, Labour-run Bradford Council is determined to build on this green space and we will now have a public referendum on the issue. Does my right hon. Friend agree that responsible brownfield development involves local authorities listening to what local people want, and that Labour-run Bradford Council should not ignore my constituents?

Answer from Stuart Andrew

My hon. Friend will know that, due to the quasi-judicial role, I cannot say too much about individual plans or proposals, but I know that he fights incredibly hard for his constituents in Keighley. What I can say is that when a planning application comes forward, there is a period for local consultation. That consultation needs to be local, and the council should listen to the concerns. Much of what we are introducing in the Levelling-up and Regeneration Bill will make it easier for the development of local plans and easier for people to engage so that they can decide what is built where in their communities.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The answer avoids directly addressing whether Labour-run Bradford Council should not ignore constituents' wishes, focusing instead on general consultation requirements and future legislation.

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Q3 Barry Sheerman Lab
Housing
Context

The need to build houses often involves the use of green-belt and other sites when brownfield options are limited.

Question

Will the Secretary of State and his gang be honest with the British public? All the time I hear people on the Government Benches saying that we have to build on brownfield land, but if it is brownfield land that can be built on and it is where people want to live, it has usually been built on already. The fact is that if this Government want to build houses, they will sometimes have to build them on green-belt land and other sites, and they will have to be imaginative about it. Do not con the British people. Brownfield land building will not meet the needs.

Answer from Stuart Andrew

I completely disagree with the hon. Gentleman. The fact is that we have run a national register and it has identified more than 28,000 hectares of developable land, which is enough for 1 million homes. I make no apology for wanting regeneration, and I make no apology for wanting brownfield before green belt.

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Q4 James Gray Con
Ukraine Energy Agriculture & Rural Affairs
Context

There are currently 20 million tonnes of wheat locked up in Ukraine, leading to a potential food shortage worldwide.

Question

At this moment there are 20 million tonnes of wheat locked up in Ukraine and we are facing a significant food shortage across the world in the years to come. Does the Minister agree that, at a time like this, using good productive land in the UK for solar farms is disgraceful and that the forthcoming national planning policy framework ought to discourage the use of agricultural land for solar farms rather than encourage it?

Answer from Stuart Andrew

I know that my hon. Friend has recently secured a Westminster Hall debate on this issue. Where agricultural land is needed, we always suggest it should be the less good agricultural land, but we also need to ensure that we are producing our own energy for this country. That is a balance that needs to be struck locally.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The Minister avoids giving a direct stance on whether using high-quality agricultural land for solar farms is disgraceful, focusing instead on the need for local decision-making and balancing energy production with agriculture.

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