National Policy Planning Framework: Housing
Debate between Baroness Taylor of Stevenage and Lord Bishop of Southwark(2 weeks, 3 days ago)
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Baroness Taylor of Stevenage (Lab)
I could not agree with the noble Lord more; this is an important issue. I am not apologising for the ambitious targets we have—we certainly need the housing. However, I am also passionate not only about delivering well-designed homes—we are currently working on the future homes standard and will publish that shortly—but about those homes being situated in communities that really work for people. That was part of what the revisions to the National Planning Policy Framework were about, but it is also incumbent on all local authorities, as they pass their local plans, to make sure that they enable that too.
The Lord Bishop of Southwark
My Lords, many in the House will wish the Government well in their ambitious commitment to housebuilding, but in terms of the National Planning Policy Framework, will the Minister outline how the social objectives of the framework are guaranteed and monitored, specifically
“accessible services and open spaces that reflect current and future needs and support communities’ health, social and cultural well-being”?
As regards well-being, will the Minister further consider restoring mandatory space standards for the construction size of British homes?
Baroness Taylor of Stevenage (Lab)
The right reverend Prelate raises a very interesting point about space standards. Coming from a new town, I remember the standards that were introduced when my town was built. On the issues around the National Planning Policy Framework and the social aspects of it, as the Planning Inspectorate goes through the process of assessing local plans—it is important to remember that fewer local authorities do not have them than those that do—it takes account of the social aspects of the plans as well as of the straightforward housing numbers. That is part of the work of my department, and we will be looking at that closely. The social aspects of the planning framework are equally as important as the technical aspects.