Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Alec Shelbrooke and Greg Clark

Monday 5th September 2011 Commons Chamber

[Alec Shelbrooke (Elmet and Rothwell) (Con)]

18. Whether he plans to set the strategic housing land availability assessments of potential housing provided by unimplemented planning permissions against the five-year supply requirement.

[The Minister of State, Department for Communities and Local Government (Greg Clark)]

I can confirm that, yes, councils will be able to use unimplemented consents in their five-year supply.

[Alec Shelbrooke]

I am grateful for that reply, but I urge the Minister to work closely with councils on publishing more guidance and setting out how to build a strong evidence base in order to include windfall sites, so that Leeds city council can stand up in the planning courts and use the 2.3 years of windfall supply as part of the current five-year supply, because at the moment, it is losing on every appeal.

[Greg Clark]

I understand my hon. Friend’s concern. As he knows, I visited Leeds in recent days, and I believe he was returning from his honeymoon, on which all Members will, I am sure, wish to congratulate him. I understand the situation he outlines: having the ability to use these unimplemented consents will be a start, and I would be happy to meet him, now that he is back in such fine form, to continue the discussion.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Alec Shelbrooke and Greg Clark

Monday 20th June 2011 Commons Chamber

[Alec Shelbrooke (Elmet and Rothwell) (Con)]

Will my right hon. Friend visit my constituency so that I can show him at first hand the greenfield land that is being developed, while thousands of units neighbouring my constituency, which have been approved by Leeds city council for building on, are being completely ignored by housing developers, thereby totally undermining any regeneration the city would like to achieve?

[The Minister of State, Department for Communities and Local Government (Greg Clark)]

I would be delighted to go to Yorkshire to visit my hon. Friend’s constituency and advise the council that the best way it can control its destiny is by adopting a local plan forthwith.