Commons Sense

House of Commons · Westminster Hall

Housing Targets: Planning System

15 November 2022 · 6 other contributors · 4,321 words

Opened by Gordon Henderson Con Sittingbourne and Sheppey

Responding minister: Dehenna Davison

Housing

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

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Gordon Henderson raised concerns about housing targets: planning system in Westminster Hall. A government minister responded.

Key points

  • Concerns raised about excessive housebuilding in Folkestone and Hythe leading to road congestion, doctor shortages, and school over-subscription.
  • Swale Borough Council has built 17,000 new homes in the past 30 years but struggles to meet government-imposed housing targets.
  • Henderson urges the Minister to consider prohibiting mandatory housing targets through new clause 21 to the Levelling-up and Regeneration Bill.

Key requests to Government

Henderson urges the Minister to look sympathetically at new clause 21 to the Levelling-up and Regeneration Bill, which would prohibit mandatory housing targets. He suggests that local authorities should be allowed to set targets based on their own assessment of infrastructure capacity.

How the debate unfolded

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

Opened the debate

Gordon Henderson Con Sittingbourne and Sheppey

Gordon Henderson is concerned about the excessive housebuilding in his constituency of Folkestone and Hythe. Local roads are congested, GP appointments are scarce due to a shortage of doctors, and schools are over-subscribed because there are not enough places for new arrivals. He notes that Swale Borough Council has built 17,000 new homes over the past 30 years but struggles to meet the top-down housing targets imposed by the Government, which have been rejected and increased multiple times. The planning process is becoming more complicated with the introduction of the Environment Act 2021 and other legislation, leading to delays in local plan production.

Other contributors (6)
  • Daniel Poulter Con null

    Concludes that unless local housing targets are set according to local need, it is difficult to provide necessary infrastructure. Urges the Minister to consider a right of appeal for local communities against inappropriate housing applications.

  • Gagan Mohindra Con South West Hertfordshire

    Suggests that local planning processes need to evolve in light of post-pandemic changes, where people are working more from home leading to less draw to London or the south-east for well-paid jobs.

  • Jim Shannon DUP Strangford

    Expresses support and highlights housing issues in Northern Ireland, mentioning 44,000 people waiting for a home and 31,000 in housing distress. Emphasizes the need for healthy and suitable homes.

  • Kelly Tolhurst Con null

    Discusses stresses on local services and planning departments due to unrealistic housing targets, particularly in the south-east. Advocates for designing targets at a local level with community empowerment to object to developments. In her constituency, the drive to meet housing targets is leading to the closure of a successful port and displacement of industries. The MP suggests focusing on commercial development to provide both infrastructure and jobs for new residents.

  • Taiwo Owatemi Lab Coventry North West

    The MP expresses concern that local authorities are sacrificing green spaces such as Coundon Wedge in an effort to meet housing targets, impacting the well-being of residents who use these areas.

  • Wendy Morton Con Aldridge-Brownhills

    Highlights challenges of withholding section 106 money by construction companies until the end of development, causing local communities to feel pain before gaining benefits. Urges for exploration and prioritization of brownfield sites over green belt areas. The MP is concerned about the need for sufficient funding to remediate brownfield sites, which she believes will be crucial to meeting local housing needs.

Government Response

Dehenna Davison

Pleasure to serve under chairmanship. Congratulated MP on securing debate on important topic. Highlighted housing supply as local and national issue, noting abolition of duty to co-operate through Levelling-up and Regeneration Bill. Discussed standard method for assessing local housing need introduced in 2018, aiming for 300,000 homes a year target while addressing challenges with material costs and labour market constraints. Addressed concerns on infrastructure pressures and mentioned funds available for brownfield development. Emphasised the importance of planning locally and focusing on needs-driven decisions rather than just numbers. Discussed plans to modernise planning system through Levelling-up and Regeneration Bill, aiming to simplify processes and end outdated practices. Acknowledged the need to attract and retain planners in local authorities. Concluded by thanking MP for debate and reiterating Government's commitment to building a million new homes within first term.

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