Oral Answers to Questions

Stuart Andrew Excerpts

Monday 5th September 2011 Commons Chamber

[Greg Clark]

I am happy to give my right hon. Friend an assurance that the primacy of the local plan remains, and that national policy will continue to require rigorous protections to be in place for heritage assets.

[Stuart Andrew (Pudsey) (Con)]

13. What assessment he has made of the five-year housing plan in the Leeds city council area.

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government (Andrew Stunell)]

It is not for central Government to assess local plans. Our planning reforms make it clear that it is for local councils to assess their local needs and to plan to meet those needs in a way that reflects local priorities.

[Stuart Andrew]

I am grateful for that reply. What steps is the Department taking to provide guidance to support investment in brownfield and inner-city locations to generate much needed employment and reduce the damaging impact on the environment caused by developing greenfield sites? Will the Minister also look again at counting windfall sites in the five-year plan?

[Andrew Stunell]

It is certainly proper for local planning authorities to take into account windfall sites, but it is also necessary for every planning authority to ensure that it has sound evidence-based proposals for housing in particular, as well as for other development. I know that my hon. Friend is particularly concerned about the situation in Leeds, and it is really for Leeds to develop its evidence base so that plans can go forward in a sensible and sustainable way.