Oral Answers to Questions

Greg Mulholland Excerpts

Monday 25th November 2013 Commons Chamber

[Greg Mulholland (Leeds North West) (LD)]

2. What definition his Department uses for sustainable development.

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government (Nick Boles)]

The national planning policy framework, taken together, constitutes the Government’s view of what sustainable development means in planning.

[Greg Mulholland]

I thank the Minister for that brief answer. He visited north Leeds and Wharfedale—and we were pleased to have him—an area facing the prospect of hundreds of new homes at a time when there are already congested roads and not enough school places, doctors and dentists. What more will he and the Department do to ensure we have genuine sustainable development that includes all those things before houses are built?

[Nick Boles]

I understand that the local plan submitted by Leeds council is now under examination. That process will test whether the provisions for infrastructure are adequate to support the level of development the council has decided it needs. He and his constituents will have every opportunity to put their case as to why they need investment in more infrastructure to support proposed development.