Built Environment Committee to finish enquiry with evidence from Planning Minister
The House of Lords Committee on the Built Environment will this week hold the final evidence session of its inquiry by posing questions to Brandon Lewis MP, Minister of State for Housing and Planning.
The Committee will quiz Mr Lewis on a range of key issues on the built environment including:
- How does the Government's policy agenda and the deregulation of planning balance with the need for new housebuilding with other priorities?
- Why is there such a disparity between the number of homes given planning permission and the number being built? What can be done to bridge the gap?
- Is existing Green Belt policy sustainable? Has the government weakened in its resolve to protect the Green Belt?
- How can national policy ensure that developments are sustainable, adaptable and well-designed following the removal and revision of national design codes?
- Should planning fees be fully devolved to local authorities?
- Can our system of developer planning obligations still deliver enough affordable homes to meet demand?
The evidence session will start at 10.15am on Thursday 17 December in Committee Room 2 of the House of Lords.
The Committee has been taking evidence on challenges in the built environment since July and has heard evidence on a range of issues including the challenges involved in meeting housing demand, the balance between national policy and local accountability and the need for leadership on design in the built environment. It will publish its report in March of next year.
