Oral Answers to Questions

Oliver Ryan Excerpts

Wednesday 22nd April 2026 Commons Chamber

[Mr Speaker]

I call the birthday boy, Oliver Ryan.

[Oliver Ryan (Burnley) (Lab/Co-op)]

Q12. Thank you, Mr Speaker—and a happy St George’s day for tomorrow too. In Burnley, Padiham and Brierfield, we have a large number of ex-industrial, derelict land sites crying out for regeneration and redevelopment. They are blighting communities and many are a fire risk. Our area of Britain needs housing—social, affordable, family, aspirational. We have the sites if the Prime Minister has the will, so will he back my campaign for a new regeneration house building programme for Burnley, Padiham and Brierfield, tackling these derelict sites to get us building, growing, and housing local people?

[The Prime Minister]

May I start by wishing my hon. Friend a happy birthday? [Hon. Members: “Hear, hear!”]

I will make sure that Ministers meet my hon. Friend to hear more detail about his particular proposal. We are committed to delivering 1.5 million homes this Parliament. We are prioritising the development of brownfield sites, ensuring that the default answer to brownfield proposals is a yes. We will go further and faster now that our Planning and Infrastructure Act 2025 is law, despite being opposed by every Opposition party—a coalition of blockers.