Oral Answers to Questions

Mike Tapp Excerpts

Monday 28th October 2024 Commons Chamber

The Secretary of State was asked—

[Mike Tapp (Dover and Deal) (Lab)]

1. What steps her Department is taking to increase the supply of housing.

[Mr Lee Dillon (Newbury) (LD)]

7. What steps her Department is taking to increase the supply of housing.

[The Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government (Angela Rayner)]

This Government are committed to delivering 1.5 million quality homes over this Parliament. Under the Tories, house building plummeted as they bowed to pressure from their Back Benchers to scrap local housing targets. We are taking bold action to reform our planning system, deliver a new generation of new towns and unblock stalled housing sites.

[Mike Tapp]

I recently met members of Dover district council, who told me that they are keen to help the Government where they can to deliver our ambitious housing targets. Around the edge of Dover High Street we often see consistently empty units. What can the Government do to help us turn those into the housing that our community so badly needs, and will the Minister meet me to discuss how we can help?

[Angela Rayner]

My hon. Friend is absolutely right. Compulsory purchase orders can be used by local authorities to acquire empty properties where the authority can demonstrate that the acquisition would be in the public interest. I am also aware that there is a problem with homes built under section 106 agreements being left empty. The Government will continue to work with house builders, local authorities and affordable housing providers to tackle the problems. I am sure that the Housing Minister will be happy to meet him.