Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

House Building: Densification of Urban Areas

Monday 5 June 2023 · 3 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 3 Not answered 0

Key points

  • John Penrose asked about increasing house building through densification of urban areas using local authority-approved building codes.
  • John Penrose inquired about the need for stronger measures to stimulate housebuilding, noting that housing targets will be weaker.
  • Kerry McCarthy asked about the successor to the housing infrastructure fund to ensure funds are available for local infrastructure to support new housing developments.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 John Penrose Con
Housing Local Government
Context

Proposes increasing house building by pre-approving buildings in urban areas via local authority-approved building codes.

Question

If he will take steps to increase house building through densification of urban areas through the use of local authority-approved building codes that pre-approve buildings.

Answer from Rachel Maclean

We are committed to ensuring that the planning system promotes the efficient use of land and creates more well-designed places in collaboration with local people. We are introducing street vote powers in the Levelling-up and Regeneration Bill to allow residents to come together and propose additional developments on their street in line with their design preferences.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The specific ask about pre-approved building codes was not directly addressed.

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Q2 John Penrose Con
Housing
Context

Expresses support for street votes but argues for stronger measures to increase housing density.

Question

I am delighted that street votes, which I and others have campaigned for for many years, is in the Levelling-up and Regeneration Bill. However, we need even stronger measures to stimulate housebuilding now that housing targets are rightly going to be much weaker. Will my hon. Friend consider building up, not out, which is street votes on steroids and is supported by many in the construction industry as the fastest, greenest and cheapest way to build many more beautiful urban homes for owner-occupiers and renters alike?

Answer from Rachel Maclean

I thank my hon. Friend for his determination in bringing forward this innovative measure, which will enable the Government to meet their ambition of delivering the houses that are needed all over our community. He is right to say that local communities should be able to set their own local design codes. That will be a fantastic way for them to create a huge number of houses, building up, out and possibly around and across as well.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The specific ask about additional measures beyond street votes was not directly addressed with concrete actions or timelines.

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Q3 Kerry McCarthy Lab Bristol East
Housing
Context

Asks about the successor to the housing infrastructure fund and funds available for local communities facing pressure from new density.

Question

Bristol is committed to building more houses, and we know that density is very much part of that, but with that comes pressure on local infrastructure. Can the Minister update the House on what the successor is to the housing infrastructure fund and on what funds will be available to ensure that local communities can cope with that new density?

Answer from Rachel Maclean

The hon. Lady is quite right: not just in Bristol, but across the country, pressures on infrastructure are one reason why communities sometimes have concerns about new housing developments. It is right that we are reforming the planning system to make that infrastructure available in advance of developments so that we can deliver the housing the country needs, in Bristol and elsewhere.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The specific ask about the successor fund was not directly addressed with concrete details on funding or timelines.

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