Housing Reform

Simon Hughes Excerpts

Monday 21st November 2011 Commons Chamber

[Simon Hughes (Bermondsey and Old Southwark) (LD)]

I welcome the statement warmly. Will the Minister assure me that his Department is continuing to talk to the Treasury about further incentives to ensure that land that is held sterile because developers will not develop it is brought back into use for housing, particularly in urban areas where it is needed?

[Grant Shapps]

I can definitely reassure my right hon. Friend that that is exactly the intention of our housing strategy. A number of our recommendations and policies will lead to that conclusion. It is important to get work moving on land that is available, particularly where planning permission has been granted. That is exactly what we intend to do.