Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps she is taking to ensure that changes to the national planning policy framework prevent developers from land banking; and what steps she plans to take to help ensure that local authorities are able to build homes that suit local needs.

The consultation on proposed reforms to the National Planning Policy Framework and other changes to the planning system that began on Tuesday 30 July includes proposals designed to support increased build out rates and promote mixed-tenure schemes that meet the housing needs of local people. In conjunction with the start of that consultation, the housebuilding industry made a public commitment to increase the pace at which homes are delivered and to get on and build where sites are viable and have implementable consent. The Government has also taken swift action to speed up site delivery through the New Homes Accelerator.

Local Plans, prepared by a local planning authority in consultation with its community, are the most effective means of shaping the future development of an area and meeting local housing need. The Government has made clear it is seeking to achieve universal coverage of ambitious local plans as quickly as possible. To support local authorities, we are funding 300 additional planning officers and consulting on increasing planning fees.