Oral Answers to Questions

Ben Maguire Excerpts

Monday 3rd March 2025 Commons Chamber

[Chris Coghlan (Dorking and Horley) (LD)]

1. What steps she plans to take to ensure that new housing developments have adequate access to primary health services.

[Ben Maguire (North Cornwall) (LD)]

12. What steps she plans to take to ensure that new housing developments have adequate access to primary health services.

[The Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government (Angela Rayner)]

Through the revised national planning policy framework, this Government have strengthened the existing system of developer contributions to ensure that new developments provide the necessary infrastructure that communities expect and deserve, including health services. We will robustly hold developers to account for delivering on their obligations, and we will support local planning authorities to do so.

[Angela Rayner]

I sympathise with the hon. Gentleman, which is why this Government have said that infrastructure must come as part of our 1.5 million homes. The Housing Minister will be happy to meet him.

[Ben Maguire]

Cornish house prices far exceed local wages, and in areas such as Rock and St Minver, 40% of houses are second homes. Meanwhile, more than 3,000 homes are set to be built in towns such as Bodmin by 2030, but the only GP surgery building is currently running at 150% capacity, despite a new building having been promised for years. Will the Secretary of State please ensure that national planning guidance mandates that primary care and education infrastructure is put in place before developments are started, preventing developers from later breaking their promises?

[Angela Rayner]

Again, I sympathise with the hon. Gentleman. As I have said, this Government are absolutely committed to ensuring that we get that infrastructure and that development is a truly plan-led system. The policy framework is meant to do that, and we intend to consult on future policy changes—including a set of national policies for decision making—this spring.