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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the answer of 25 July 2024, to Question 1010, on Housing: Northstowe, if she will set out the remit of the accelerator taskforce.

The New Homes Accelerator, in partnership with Homes England, will support the delivery of Phase 2 of the Northstowe scheme in Cambridgeshire, unlocking 3,000 homes and continuing to progress proposals to unlock a further 2,600 homes in Phase 3.

As a result of issues relating to the planning process and delivery partners, Homes England will be taking a stronger leadership and delivery role to make sure that the quality of delivery matches the aspirations of the local community. This phase will include putting the new town centre in place. Homes England is entering into in a new partnership agreement with the private sector to support delivery of the next stage of the scheme. The department will also provide enhanced planning capacity support.

The department will also provide enhanced planning capacity support, through an in-house team consisting of senior multi-disciplinary built environment professionals.