Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Lord Bellingham and Brandon Lewis

Monday 29th June 2015 Commons Chamber

[Mr Henry Bellingham (North West Norfolk) (Con)]

T5. Are Ministers aware that the Borough Council of King’s Lynn & West Norfolk has a five-year supply of housing and a robust local plan, which will go to the inspector next month? In the meantime, do they agree that it is quite wrong and unethical for developers and housing associations to put in opportunistic applications and appeals?

[Brandon Lewis]

My hon. Friend makes a good point. It is good to hear that the King’s Lynn local plan will be going through the process as soon as possible. I know that the inspectors will look at it and work with the local authority to get it through the process. If a planning application is made, the local authority itself is the body that makes the decision. Should it end up with an inspector, they will look at the process. Obviously, as the local plan goes through the process it gains more weight, which should be taken into account in any decision.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Lord Bellingham and Brandon Lewis

Monday 16th March 2015 Commons Chamber

[Brandon Lewis]

As a planning case, that matter is quasi-judicial. Again, I cannot comment on a particular planning application. However, over the next couple of days, I will write to the hon. Lady with some idea of the timeline.

[Mr Henry Bellingham (North West Norfolk) (Con)]

Will the Secretary of State confirm that councils, such as my local borough council of King’s Lynn and West Norfolk, with emerging local plans and a five-year supply of housing, will not be overruled on appeal or undermined by speculative planning applications?

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Lord Bellingham and Brandon Lewis

Monday 20th January 2014 Commons Chamber

[Mr Henry Bellingham (North West Norfolk) (Con)]

8. When he next expects to meet local authorities in East Anglia to discuss the problems caused by the tidal surges of 5 to 6 December 2013.

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government (Brandon Lewis)]

I am at the moment inviting local council leaders from across the country whose areas have been affected by flooding to meet me, beyond those I have already spoken to. In fact, I plan to meet East Anglian authorities on 27 January.

[Mr Bellingham]

Will the Minister join me in paying tribute to the Environment Agency and all the other emergency services that worked so tirelessly on the night of the tidal surges, many of which, along the Norfolk coast, were the highest ever on record? Does he agree that the repair work has also been absolutely fantastic? The repairs are now nearly all finished, as I saw for myself when I visited the shingle embankment between Snettisham and Hunstanton last Friday. Will he tell the House what more he will do to talk to local authorities?

[Brandon Lewis]

My hon. Friend is right to highlight the excellent work done by local authorities and emergency services. I must stress that voluntary groups and schools also worked through the night. Particular credit must go to local organisations, such as the Norfolk Community Foundation and our great Eastern Daily Press, which have campaigned on behalf of local communities. I will invite those groups to talk to us about the lessons they have learned and what more we can do to ensure that the recovery goes smoothly.