Oral Answers to Questions

Jim Cunningham Excerpts

Monday 15th December 2014 Commons Chamber

[Mr Jim Cunningham (Coventry South) (Lab)]

4. What guidance his Department has given to local authorities on steps they can take to increase the rate at which new homes are built.

[The Minister of State, Department for Communities and Local Government (Brandon Lewis)]

We have just extended the affordable homes programme—a total of £38 billion-worth of public and private investment, together ensuring that 275,000 new affordable homes will be built between 2015 and 2020. Council housing starts are at a 23-year high, and we expect the independent review into councils’ role in housing supply to report very soon.

[Mr Cunningham]

Does the Secretary of State agree with me that greenfield sites can be very highly valued by local residents and are important for protecting natural habitats and heritage? As we look to build the much-needed houses, will he take steps to assist local authorities to make sure that brownfield sites and inner-city spaces are fully exhausted before any greenfield sites are built on?

[Brandon Lewis]

I agree with the hon. Gentleman. He is absolutely right that local authorities should be looking to develop brownfield sites first. In fact, we are looking at that with the new starter homes programme that the Prime Minister announced today. We have also put in more money over the summer to encourage local authorities to develop those brownfield sites first and to make them more viable.