Growth and Infrastructure Bill

Brian Binley Excerpts

Monday 5th November 2012 Commons Chamber

[Mr Nick Raynsford (Greenwich and Woolwich) (Lab)]

rose—

[Mr Brian Binley (Northampton South) (Con)]

rose—

[Mr Pickles]

Of course I will give way to the very distinguished gentleman. [Interruption.] Or were there two distinguished Members standing together?

--- Later in debate ---

[Mr Binley]

I am grateful and I understand why my right hon. Friend gave way to a much more distinguished Member than me.

Let me refer to the issue of infrastructure—not only of utilities, but housing. I know that my right hon. Friend is very aware of the need to build on brownfield sites first, so can he tell me what work his Department is doing to ensure that, when planning permission is given, proper surveys of brownfield sites in a given area are undertaken before greenfield sites are built on?

[Mr Pickles]

That is a reasonable point. My hon. Friend will know—I know he is an assiduous reader of these things—that the national planning policy framework indeed lays out a test to look at brownfield sites. In a few moments, I shall come on to a few additional measures that will make my hon. Friend even happier than he is currently.