National Planning Policy Framework

Andrew Selous Excerpts

Monday 5th March 2018 Commons Chamber

[Sajid Javid]

My hon. Friend makes a very good point. There are regional housing markets—the London market is very different from housing markets in other parts of the country—so he is right to highlight that point. On infrastructure, it is very important that the local authority plans for the right infrastructure. That means help from developer contributions, but also from the Government. That is why I hope he welcomes the housing infrastructure fund.

[Andrew Selous (South West Bedfordshire) (Con)]

rose—

[Robert Courts (Witney) (Con)]

rose—

[Mr Speaker]

What a choice between two illustrious denizens of the House. I call Mr Andrew Selous.

[Andrew Selous]

Thank you very much, Mr Speaker. Houghton Regis North 1 is a 5,000-house development in my constituency for which all planning permissions have already been granted. My concern is that I am told that not a single person will collect keys on that large site until early 2020 because of the time it will take to put in electricity and other utilities. My constituents need those houses now. They cannot wait that long and they cannot wait for the Letwin review. What can the Government do to help to get those utilities in more quickly, so that we build the houses we desperately need?

[Sajid Javid]

My hon. Friend highlights the need for more cross-government work to ensure better co-ordination on issues such as utilities to make sure that all Departments are delivering. I am working with my right hon. Friend the Business Secretary and his colleagues to make sure that utilities are put in at the right time and do not hold up development.