Commons Sense

House of Commons · Westminster Hall

Housing Supply And Planning Reform

15 July 2021 · 0 other contributors · 1,556 words

Opened by Bob Seely Con Isle of Wight

Responding minister: Not recorded

Housing

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

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Bob Seely raised concerns about housing supply and planning reform in Westminster Hall. Response awaited from government.

Key points

  • Nine in ten planning applications are approved, but only 60% of permissions result in actual construction.
  • The north of England has 23% of the population but receives only 16% of housing need allocations.
  • The Housing Infrastructure Fund spends 4 per head in Yorkshire compared to 115 per head in the east of England.

Key requests to Government

Enshrine the ability to object to individual planning applications, give greater weight to reforming neighbourhood plans, outlaw gazumping, redirect infrastructure funding and house building jobs to levelling-up areas, end lazy greenfield development, introduce a brownfield zero-rate, encourage small-scale brownfield development with financial incentives, close loopholes in compulsory purchase laws for derelict properties, screen out dodgy developers through a character test, require change of use applications for Airbnb or holiday homes, provide stamp duty exemption for last-time sellers over 65 to free up the market, and introduce a use-it-or-lose-it rule for permissions.

How the debate unfolded

MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said.

Opened the debate

Bob Seely Con Isle of Wight

Nine in ten planning applications are approved, but only 60% of permissions are built, leaving over one million unbuilt permissions. The building cartels restrict supply to prevent prices from falling. The standard method undermines the levelling-up agenda as it directs investment away from poorer parts of the country. The north has 23% of the nation's population but receives only 16% of housing need allocations and 18% of public expenditure on housing. The Housing Infrastructure Fund spends £4 per head in Yorkshire compared to £115 per head in the east of England.

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