Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Alex Burghart and James Brokenshire

Monday 22nd July 2019 Commons Chamber

[Alex Burghart (Brentwood and Ongar) (Con)]

19. What steps his Department is taking to reduce the time it takes to build new homes.

[The Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government (James Brokenshire)]

More housing was delivered across England last year than in all but one of the past 31 years. We have examined the recommendations of my right hon. Friend the Member for West Dorset (Sir Oliver Letwin) on the build-out review, and the Government responded in full at the spring statement earlier this year with a commitment to speed up the planning system and introduce new guidance to encourage diversification.

--- Later in debate ---

[Alex Burghart]

Does the Secretary of State think that modular building methods could play a bigger role in helping us to increase the supply of housing?

[James Brokenshire]

I do, in short. Modular building is an essential part of our work to get speedier build out, to ensure diversification of materials, and to get skills for people. It has been good to see how housing associations and the private sector are starting to embrace it. There is more to do, but I recognise my hon. Friend’s point.