Housing and Planning Bill (Seventeenth sitting)

Debate between Lord Jackson of Peterborough and Stephen Hammond

Thursday 10th December 2015 Public Bill Committees

[Mr Jackson]

Mr Gray, I accept your admonition. I am just reaching a crescendo in my remarks.

[Stephen Hammond (Wimbledon) (Con)]

Just before my hon. Friend does, will he give way?

[Mr Jackson]

Before I reach that crescendo, I will give way to my hon. Friend.

--- Later in debate ---

[Stephen Hammond]

I am very much looking forward to my hon. Friend’s crescendo. Will he reflect in his closing remarks on the fact that the planning system, via the pre-application process, already contains the chance for small developers to pay to get developments brought forward more quickly, and that does reflect the full cost to the authority?

[Mr Jackson]

Not for the first time, my hon. Friend rescues me from falling into your disregard, Mr Gray, and gets me back on track. There is full cost recovery at pre-application, and one of the most useful aspects of planning and development control is the help and assistance that developers get from good, experienced, knowledgeable planning officers at the pre-application stage, leading them to make timely, properly costed applications that will be expedited through the planning system. The new clause may be probing, but it is superfluous and unnecessary and if it is pressed to a vote, I suggest that the Committee reject it.