Housing White Paper

James Morris Excerpts

Tuesday 7th February 2017 Commons Chamber

[Sajid Javid]

I can absolutely reassure my hon. Friend on that point. The White Paper contains a specific requirement on all local authorities to plan for the needs in their area, so if the demographics differ from area to area, as of course they will, that is exactly what will need to be catered for.

[James Morris (Halesowen and Rowley Regis) (Con)]

As a constituency neighbour of mine, the Secretary of State will know that people in Halesowen value the amenity of the green belt around it. Does he therefore agree that the approach to house building in the Black country should very much be brownfield first, focusing on the remediation of existing sites for house building?

[Sajid Javid]

Yes, I very much agree with what my hon. Friend says.