Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact of large housing developments with insufficient infrastructure and amenities on community cohesion, social capital, and social inclusion.

It is for local authorities to ensure that there is sufficient infrastructure and amenities for large housing developments, and this Government is making sure that they have the means to do so. We are committed to ensuring that housebuilding is accompanied by suitable infrastructure to foster new and strong communities. The Housing White Paper sets out the importance of the timely provision of infrastructure in housing development, supported by our £2.3 billion Housing Infrastructure Fund.

The National Planning Policy Framework recognises that the planning system can play an important role in facilitating social interaction and creating healthy, inclusive communities. It asks local planning authorities to create a shared vision with local communities of the residential environment and facilities they wish to see.

Within plan making, the social impact of proposals in the draft plan (including site allocations) are assessed through a Sustainability Appraisal which assesses the social, economic and environmental effects.

The Community Infrastructure Levy can be used to address the cumulative impact of development, and Section 106 planning obligations are used to make development acceptable.