Oral Answers to Questions

Ranil Jayawardena Excerpts

Monday 18th June 2018 Commons Chamber

[Dominic Raab]

We are raising the HRA cap to give local authorities more flexibility to enable them to deliver the homes. The hon. Lady may also want to have a word with the Mayor of London, because we want the ambition from central Government taken right the way through. She is right to mention local councils, but we must also make sure that city hall is doing its bit.

[Mr Ranil Jayawardena (North East Hampshire) (Con)]

8. What steps his Department plans to take to enable local authorities to prioritise brownfield regeneration.

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government (Nigel Adams)]

This Government are continuing to identify ways to ensure that local authorities make full and efficient use of brownfield land, including through changing the national planning policy framework, supporting the reuse of buildings through permitted development rights, and requiring every authority to publish and maintain a register of brownfield land suitable for housing.

[Mr Jayawardena]

I thank my hon. Friend for that answer, but what progress has been made in giving Homes England the powers and resources it needs to acquire sites in fragmented ownership in order to deliver regeneration for our communities?

[Nigel Adams]

My hon. Friend is well known for his work in ensuring that brownfield land is prioritised for development. The Government are currently working up the details of a new £1.1 billion land assembly fund to enable Homes England to work alongside private developers to develop strategic sites, including new settlements and urban regeneration schemes. Homes England is also encouraged to use its powers of compulsory purchase, where necessary, to deliver community regeneration.