Contributions
2,184 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDHousebuilding TargetsMy Lords, my noble friend is right that there is no planning officer tree out there that we can go and pick planning officers from—I wish there were. Highly skilled planners are…12 Dec 2024HANSARDHousebuilding TargetsMy Lords, I understand that the Church Commissioners are keen to have discussions, and that will be the case. All land within a local plan area is ready for consideration, but I…12 Dec 2024HANSARDHousebuilding TargetsI am grateful to the Right Reverend Prelate for that question. We understand the need for particular consideration of rural sites and rural exception sites. I apologise that he…12 Dec 2024HANSARDPlanning Committees: ReformMy Lords, I want to be clear that I do not think local authorities should have the finger pointed at them for holding up planning. However, applications can get stuck, and we need…12 Dec 2024HANSARDPlanning Committees: ReformI agree with the noble Baroness that the voice of local people and local councillors in the planning process is absolutely vital. There is no intention to change the consultation…12 Dec 2024HANSARDPlanning Committees: ReformThe noble Lord is quite right to pick up this point. It is the intention that, where applications are in conformity with the local plan, a speedy decision should be taken. The…12 Dec 2024HANSARDPlanning Committees: ReformI thank the noble Baroness for her question. I am not a lawyer, so I do not want to get involved in discussions about the merits of judicial review. People need to have some…12 Dec 2024HANSARDHousebuilding TargetsThe noble Lord is quite right to raise this. I am pleased to say that we have today published the National Planning Policy Framework, which sets out a broad framework of advice…12 Dec 2024HANSARDHousebuilding TargetsI thank my noble friend. I am happy to assure her that we are working across government and with industry to deliver sufficient high-quality training opportunities and build a…12 Dec 2024HANSARDHousebuilding TargetsThe noble Baroness is quite right to point to that as an issue. We have set up the housing acceleration unit in the department, which I mentioned earlier, to help with that. We…12 Dec 2024HANSARDHousebuilding TargetsMy Lords, I understand the point the noble Baroness is making. It is important that consumers are reassured that, when they purchase a property, they are going to receive it as…12 Dec 2024HANSARDHomes: Existing CommunitiesMy Lords, I am very pleased to respond for the Government on this important topic. What an interesting debate it has been. I thank the noble Lord, Lord Wolfson, for leading on the…12 Dec 2024HANSARDHousebuilding TargetsMy Lords, the Government have announced a £46 million package of investment into the planning system to support capacity and capability in local planning authorities, including…12 Dec 2024HANSARDHousebuilding TargetsI am grateful to my noble friend for raising this important issue, on which he wrote to me this morning. I do not have an answer for him yet, but I will write to him on that…12 Dec 2024HANSARDHousebuilding TargetsWe are taking a number of steps to encourage the use of SME building companies. Homes England has considerable control of the funding for affordable homes, and we have encouraged…12 Dec 2024HANSARDPlanning Committees: ReformI thank the noble Baroness for her question. There certainly needs to be a strategic planning level above the level of local plans. She can expect to see more news about that in…12 Dec 2024HANSARDPlanning Committees: ReformWhen authorities do their housing needs assessment, they will have the opportunity to state why they think that the housing numbers they have been given are too high. If one of…12 Dec 2024HANSARDNew HomesTo deliver 1.5 million homes over this Parliament the housebuilding sector will need skilled and competent workers, efficient planning and a reliable materials supply chain, as…11 Dec 2024HANSARDNew HomesThe noble Baroness is quite right about the stuck sites but, in spite of the very difficult Budget round this year, the Government have put £500 million more into affordable…11 Dec 2024HANSARDNew HomesI am working daily on that task at the moment. We are looking at the future homes standard with the future homes hub, which involves the whole construction industry, to make sure…11 Dec 2024