Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Dominic Raab and Rebecca Pow

Monday 18th June 2018 Commons Chamber

[Rebecca Pow (Taunton Deane) (Con)]

To enable developers to build the right proportion of affordable housing, it is essential that they have the money for infrastructure. In that respect, I welcome the £7.6 million we have received for the spine road in Staplegrove. When will we know whether £18 million of funding will be announced following the joint bid by my council and Sedgemoor?

[Dominic Raab]

I thank my hon. Friend. The housing infrastructure fund is absolutely vital because people rightly ask local authorities with the ambition to build new homes where the roads, schools and clinics will come from. We are taking forward a whole range of bids for co-development. The business proposals will be analysed by my Department, and we will make further announcements in the autumn.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Dominic Raab and Rebecca Pow

Monday 12th March 2018 Commons Chamber

[Dominic Raab]

For all that thunder and lightning, we are investing £23 million to support neighbourhood planning groups. I gently remind the hon. Gentleman that 94% of councils have published local plans, compared with 32% when Labour left office. The previous Labour Government wantonly failed to deliver on encouraging the take-up of local plans, where this Government have succeeded.

[Rebecca Pow (Taunton Deane) (Con)]

Talking of planning ahead, two councils in Somerset—Taunton Deane Borough Council and West Somerset Council—are waiting to form a single council. They have already had major savings by sharing services jointly, but they now really need to know if they can form one authority. Will my hon. Friend update me on the progress of this process?

[Dominic Raab]

The issue is under imminent review. The Secretary of State is giving it his personal attention and a decision will be taken shortly.