Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Potentially Unsuitable Development Proposals

Monday 9 January 2023 · 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 1 Partly answered 3 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Communities across the Witham constituency have faced speculative developments, raising concerns about government planning policies.
  • The National Planning Policy Framework includes a 35% urban uplift, with potential flexibility for green belt areas.
  • The Minister emphasized the importance of building on brownfield land first and highlighted a 11.5 billion fund for affordable housing.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Priti Patel Con Witham
Housing Local Government
Context

Communities in Witham constituency face speculative developments, some approved by councils concerned about their five-year land supply. Villages such as Hatfield Peverel and Tiptree are fighting against these developments.

Question

Mr Speaker, communities across the Witham constituency have faced speculative developments. What assurances can she give my constituents that the Government's planning policies support those communities?

Answer from Lucy Frazer

Communities invest considerable time and effort in preparing neighbourhood plans, and I understand their frustrations when decisions go against their wishes. We have published proposals to increase protections for areas with a neighbourhood plan, which are out for consultation.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The specific ask was not directly addressed; no assurances were given about current policies supporting communities.

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Q2 Priti Patel Con Witham
Housing
Context

The consultation on the National Planning Policy Framework included flexibilities and potential changes, but there was little flexibility around the urban uplift. This could force development onto greenfield sites.

Question

Happy new year to everyone. The NPPF includes a 35% urban uplift, how has it been calculated? In cases like Sheffield, will there be flexibility so that this extra amount does not apply?

Answer from Lucy Frazer

The hon. Gentleman mentioned the green belt, and we are very conscious of the impact of building on it. There will be strengthened protections around that in the NPPF.

Not addressed: Question was about urban uplift calculations and flexibility; response changed to discussion about greenbelt protections without addressing the specifics asked.

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Q3 Clive Betts Lab Sheffield South East
Housing
Context

Mayor of London's housing targets are causing delays in house building, affecting both social and market housing development.

Question

Does my right hon. and learned Friend agree that the best way to stop building housing in unsuitable areas is to build more on brownfield sites? Is it not tragic under Labour Mayor's policies that good projects are stopped?

Answer from Lucy Frazer

We do agree that it is important that we build first on brownfield land. That is why we have a brownfield-first policy and a fund to encourage investment in those areas.

Answered
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Q4 Boris Johnson Con
Housing
Context

Developers are building luxury student accommodation and apartments instead of the needed social and affordable housing, leading to high price rises.

Question

Happy new year. In York, developers build luxury apartments when we need social and affordable homes. This leads to the highest price rises in housing across the country. How will the Minister ensure local authorities just build according to need?

Answer from Lucy Frazer

We are committed to ensuring that we have in our new infrastructure the same amount of affordable housing as currently exists. We have a fund of £11.5 billion going into affordable housing.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The specific ask about local authorities building based on needs was not directly addressed; instead, commitment to maintaining current levels of affordable housing was provided.

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Q5 Rachael Maskell Labour (Co-op) York Central
Agriculture & Rural Affairs
Context

Communities face speculative developments, some of which have gone through on appeals or due to councils concerned about their five-year land supply.

Question

Mr Speaker, many villages in my constituency have faced speculative developments, including Hatfield Peverel and Tiptree. What assurances can she give that the Government's planning policies are on the side of those communities?

Answer from Lucy Frazer

We have published proposals to increase protections for areas with a neighbourhood plan, which are out for consultation. Communities invest considerable time and effort in preparing plans, and I understand their frustrations when decisions go against their wishes.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The specific ask was not directly addressed; instead, response mentioned the ongoing consultation process without providing concrete assurances.

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