Business of the House

Debate between Alan Campbell and Anna Sabine

Thursday 22nd October 2026 Commons Chamber

[Sir Alan Campbell]

I certainly will. That is a fantastic way of marking what was a tragedy. The community has come together to raise resources and make sure that these matters are tackled. I pay tribute to every one of my hon. Friend’s constituents who had anything to do with this fantastic project.

[Anna Sabine (Frome and East Somerset) (LD)]

At Sulis Down, a housing development in my constituency, residents have moved in to find that planning obligations and landscaping have not been completed by the developer, the Vistry Group. Once people move into new estates, they have very little leverage over developers; in this case, Vistry is refusing to meet them. Will the Leader of the House help me secure a meeting with the relevant Minister to discuss how residents of new developments can be given real power to challenge developers?

[Sir Alan Campbell]

The Government are very keen to make sure that house owners and people purchasing houses have the information and power that they need to hold developers to account. It is a piece of work that is central to what the Government are doing. I hope that the developer has heard the hon. Lady’s concerns and will put things right, but if she wishes to meet the Housing Minister, I can help her to arrange that.

Business of the House

Debate between Alan Campbell and Anna Sabine

Thursday 12th March 2026 Commons Chamber

[Sir Alan Campbell]

My hon. Friend is a strong advocate not just for his constituency but for Cornwall, and I commend him for that. As he said, the Eden Project has been an amazing initiative, contributing to the local community and economy, attracting visitors, creating jobs and generating a £6.8 billion boost to the area since it opened. My door is always open to my hon. Friend to discuss what further action can be taken to champion this cause. If he seeks one, I will also get him a meeting with the relevant Minister.

[Anna Sabine (Frome and East Somerset) (LD)]

For decades, local people in Frome have used Packsaddle fields as a valued space for walking, recreation and nature. Plans to build housing on the site were refused twice last year, because of the harm it would cause to the communities who use the land. Despite that, and the fact that it has no live planning application, LiveWest is now taking legal action relating to access to the fields and has forced Somerset council to fence off the area, which simply denies local people the many benefits of being able to enjoy the outdoors. Will the Leader of the House urge the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government to consider whether it can be reasonable for land to be fenced off in that way and help me to organise a meeting with the relevant Minister to discuss it?

[Sir Alan Campbell]

I will raise the matter with the relevant Minister and ensure that the hon. Lady gets an update on the important point she raises, but I gently point out, as I do when housing matters are considered, that it is much better if these things are decided locally and communities can go along with them, because we do need more houses. We need more houses for people to live in and to make sure communities are resilient, but I will ensure that she gets a response to the specific point from the relevant Minister.