HOMES AND PLANNING BILL SECOND READING
Near-live transcript. Not the official record.
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Point of order, Sir Christopher Chope.
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The question is that this House do now sit in private. As many as are of that opinion say aye. Aye. Of the contrary no. No. I think the
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Hear, hear. Well, as, Madam Deputy Speaker, I beg to move
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Speaker, I beg to move that the bill be read a second time.
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as someone who is a, although a non-pecuniary interest, as someone who is a member of the Cornwall Rural...
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Community Land Trust, both of which charities are deeply engaged in the delivery
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later on. Now, the purpose of...
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Now the purpose of this bill is to create toolswhich can be used or or not as as local communities and local authorities choose to assist communities determined to address
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concerned about the impact of the
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my part of the world, West Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, the housing needs of local, local families...
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needs of local local families are are extreme indeed with with with many people living on the streets and
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with with with many people living on the streets
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thousands of families on the Home Choice the Home Choice register.
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to assist me in drafting the legislation
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deficiencies. The purpose and intentions and benefit of the of the bill are clear andand sound and those technicalities indeed could be very easily ironed out
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with, with any part, well with the first part of the bill, the community-led homes and community rights elements...
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led Holmes and
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community-led homes and community rights elements
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of the of the Bill, I'd be content to find another way with the the cooperation of the Minister
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in the government and therefore to have that part removed if necessary with
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last element of the Bill, which after all is simply implementing policy which was, which was implemented by the Labour party in Wales. After all, it's not unusual
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in Wales.After all, it's not unusual even for governments to declare, as I have just done, that Second Reading
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as I have just done at second reading an intention to amend in committee indeed as the government did with the with the Representation of the People Bill on March the 2nd this this year column 625.
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Representation of the People Bill on March the 2nd this this year column 625. I'm not new to to to this procedure. As some of the more long-standing members of the House will remember that in 2014
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Indeed, an echo of today's bill, the Affordable Housing Bull then, and it
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keenly contested, I have to say, at that stage, in order to get it through.
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Second Reading.
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although it was unsuccessful ultimately at the during during the remaining stages through, I have to say, unacceptable filibustering
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one of the primary purposes, although it was
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I have to say, unacceptable mechanisms used by the the Conservatives, I have to say at that that stage,
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the Conservatives, I have to say, at that, that stage, during the coalition years. The, the primary or one of the purposes of the Bill was, was, was to, was to scrap, abolish the bedroom tax. On
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the bedroom tax on social housing. which was then something which all Labour
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to scrap the
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that particular aim and what I've not seen the Labour party do since they've come into power is to is to actually do that. It is having a detrimental impact on the way in which housing charities go forward with their with their development policies and we are building far too many smaller smaller homes and not giving ourselves the flexibility in future to to accommodate larger families as a result of the pressures caused by by the bedroom tax quite apart from the immediate impact which it has on on people living in social social housing.
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people living in social social housing. This Bill doesn't impose from the centre but offers a menu of of
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Wishes to petition gathered by the local Labour Party in the St
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gathered by the local Labour party in the St Ives constituency and handed to me by a local Labour activist, Cornelius Olivier, who indeed was a candidate against me in the in a general election, but we work together and he strongly supports this Bill. And he supports it for reasons because he can see the impact which which the pressures which which places like like like my own, West Cornwall and the Isles
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I'd like to thank my honourable friend for giving way. Only this week I was contacted by a single mother who is set to become homelessness, homeless very, very soon. The letting agent demanded evidence of an income of £39,000 in Torbay. We've got the third lowest income...
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This bill will apply some
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more affordable homes for those people.
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homes for families like this lady in need
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my honourable friend for making that point and indeed that problem experienced by by my honourable friend's constituent is
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Well, I'm very grateful to
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my honourable friend's constituent is one which is replicated around the country and certainly in my, in my own area where, where at the latest count for example, and I'm sure that in a, in a tourism area like Torbay the situation is the same, we, we looked on the internet when one could look on the internet, in those days when one could look on the internet, and found that there were 2,000...
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look on the internet, and found that there were 2,700 holiday lets and Airbnbs available within the constituency and
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I congratulate him on bringing forward this very important bill. I'm sure that many members across the House will agree with the principles behind it. We all know that there is a housing crisis in this country. And we need to do everything we can to ensure that people have access to affordable and decent homes. This bill is a step in the right direction. And I hope that the government will support it.
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shows you the degree of imbalance in areas like our own, where one is comparing the the the incentive for for for those who own more than one property to make that property available for the holiday trade, rather than necessarily making it available as affordable housing for local people. But the the the the purpose in in, in in in in the the the Bill itself is to is to empower local communities
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The bill itself is to empower local communities to be
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I thank my honourable friend for giving way. I
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I thank my hon. Friend for giving way. I bring to the case of Chantelle Black, a lady who lives indevices and has seven children. For the last two years I've been trying to get her
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suitable accommodation. She is forced to live in a two-bed flat. and it simply isn't the accommodation available to house her.
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sort of problem needs to be addressed.
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and I and I hope that my hon. Friend is able to assist Chantal to make sure that all all of the
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The potential a route by which her housing need can be met are are
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Normally on a Friday morning, it's often that I will hold a case work surgery inIn my constituency, I see that I'm actually
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the, in the Chamber. Perhaps I should, should invite others to bring their, their cases forward as well. But, but I, I don't, I don't wish to make light of, of the seriousness of the, of the issue. I was, I was saying that, that the Labour Party support this, this in, in my constituency, so...
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has travel all the way to toLondon and we delivered the petition to um his petition uh of nearly 2,000 signatures to uh to Downing Street and in
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within, within the bill, um, and, and certainly, uh, it, it was proposed only, only a few years ago
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to Parliament last last night. But also I note that that of course the Conservatives support
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it it was proposed only only a few years ago in February 2024 the the the now Lord Gove
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that the that the Conservatives intended to bring in
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a change in the use class order in order to require those who wish to convert a permanently occupied
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I'm just trying to imagine a situation where you've got two properties next door to each other, identical, but one of them is currently being used as a second home.
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under those circumstances under this under this billproperty automatically get rights to be a second home with with punning permission? And what impact would that have on the
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homes in comparison to each other?
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Markets find their own equilibrium. And, and if the honourable Member, I think, is, is indicating his objection, presumably his question should be directed to his colleagues in Wales, who have already implemented this policy. And certainly there would be a presumption that those properties, which would then need to be registered, which currently are used as, as second or holiday lets, would then, would then form part of that, part of that register. But the purpose for this is to assist in communities that...
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would be a presumption that those properties which would then need to be registered, which currently are used as, as second or holiday lets, would then, would then form part of that, part of that register. But the purpose for this is to assist in communities where there is a risk of proliferation of properties which...
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Sorry, Chair.Would the hon. Member recognise though that there are some people who are advocating for a licensing-based scheme?
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who are advocating for a licensing-based scheme instead, that moves away from a planning system which is arguably insufficiently funded, doesn't give planning authorities the, the means with which to carry out enforcement at a later date?
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later dates, whereas a licensing scheme would give them income and also importantly wouldn't be permanent and would give
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and would give the people issuing licences the ability to remove them if they've been given to inappropriate landlords.
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I think the honourable member misunderstands what this is about and also...
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and also misunderstands what what the government's proposal with regard to a licensing system would would do in a
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A licensing system would only apply to holiday lets and not second homes, okay?
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homes, okay, as a first off. And it doesn't give the, the local community any power to say that we wish to put a cap on the numbers within a particular area in order to manage the...
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I thank him for giving way. He'll know, like I do, that it's not just about the housing crisis, it's also about communities, and in places like Blakeney in my constituency, where four out of 10 houses are either second homes or holiday lets, this can have a devastating effect.
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are either second homes or holiday lets, this can have a devastating impact on community cohesion, particularly
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Yeah. I mean, absolutely. Um, I mean, the...
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I mean the registration scheme is is welcome. It'll it'll be it'll be it'll be a helpful pretty s-
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it'll be a helpful really side side issue as far as actually really addressing and getting to the nub
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of the problem which exists. And the Honourable Member, if he wishes to intervene on me again, could he...
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which exists. And the hon. Member, if he wishes to intervene on me again, could he, when he does intervene, just explain
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to me, is he in support of what the Labour Party has done in Wales?
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fact has been on prices on prices of properties. What'sfor me though is that we haven't proposed a licensing scheme in this country yet, and the point that was made about giving communities the power to cap
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A licensing scheme could be used with a cap. Does the hon. Member agree that a licensing scheme, if it comes with a
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Communities the cap could be a more powerful tool than planning which gives
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First of all, yeah, first...
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First of all, yeah, first of all as my honourable friends shout correctly that obviously the honourable member hasn't read the bill because because because on when when a property changes
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on, when a property changes hands, then any permission would need to be renewed, so it's not in perpetuity.
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at all, so he's completely
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I misunderstood that. The second point is that he's saying that that there's a cap. Well, that's
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But it was very interesting, wasn't it, that the Conservatives, when they brought forward their proposal, was to introduce
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scheme would be useful. I know that he's been encouraged by the Whips to kind of come and try and make a—a rather—a brave, I have to say, you know, give him, give him some credit, brave—
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cut the mustard. It's a useful a useful and interesting sideshow, but it has no relevance as far asbe really seriously
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I thank the member for giving way. I just want to get a sense from the honourable member if I can, is he supportive of potentially further steps towards licensing and the potential introduction of caps as they suggested by my honourable friend
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role, but only in relation to holiday lets within
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It doesn't have the impact which I think the purpose of this bill would would have.But it's I will give way, yes.
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community in a countryside, so not so much the coastal, but an agricultural building that was given permission to...
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that was given permission under class Q to become a residential property. And now neighbours are talking about, look, how often it's being advertised on Airbnb and the, the, the problems caused by people coming in and out, cleaners in and out, disruption in the countryside. Would he agree that if we had a system whereby the number of nights, like in London, where a property could be rented in order for it to remain a residential property, it would allow local authorities to work with the planning scheme to say, well, if you want to have 100 days a year where you're going to be renting it out or 50...
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a hundred days a year where you're going to be renting it out or fifty whatever the figure is
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My Honourable Friend...
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My hon. Friend makes a very good point, and indeed one of the
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one of the additional if you like stories which is going along aside this is that is that um
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What we've seen as a result of
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that what we've seen as a result of tax changes, properties moving from holiday let to second home, from second home to holiday let, and that being a relatively easy thing to move from the council tax register to the business rates register. And of course the vast majority of holiday lets in a place like...
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lets in a place like Cornwall, and indeed on the Isles of Scilly, are owned by people who don't...
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and indeed on the Isles of Scilly, are owned by people who don't live in Cornwall or, or the, the Isles of Scilly, but they run the business there nevertheless through agents. But, but the vast majority of them apply for small business rates relief and end up paying nothing at all. And they were joyous, popping the champagne corks, no, no doubt, in whichever part of the country they live in, but not in Cornwall, at the news in the Budget that the Government had just announced that they're going to increase
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just announced that they're going to increase the valuation that will be used as far as small business rate relief is concerned from 12,000 to 18,000, therefore widening the curtilage within which those people who are wealthy enough to own a second property and can choose either to use it for their own leisure purposes or to let it out as a holiday let, and they will end up paying absolutely nothing at all.
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leisure purposes or to let it out for holiday purposes or indeed to do both, and that's the point.
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to do both, and that's the point. And a lot of holiday letting agents make it quite clear to people, to, to those people with second homes, you don't like paying double council tax on your second
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enjoy it, and in the weeks when you're not using it, you can let it out.' And I've, I, I can use quotes if you like, there's certainly if you go and look at all of the...
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to business rates
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to business rates, apply for small business rate relief and you pay nothing. Now, I mean in Cornwall, I'll just finish this point because my my honourable friend from from from St Austell and Newquay will will will no doubt want to assist me in making this point, is that in Cornwall since since the the the small business rate relief change came in in 2012, there have been well over half a half a billion pounds of taxpayers' money has had to be used to subsidise those people who take advantage of
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during that that period. Admittedly, a large amount of that Covid-8, should they have been entitled to that?So, a moral question.
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but the fact is that that amount of money being used, that's our money, taxpayers' money, being used to subsidise in many cases people who are wealthy enough to have a second home, enjoy their second home...
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who don't live in the area, who let it out to the holiday trade and
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second home, enjoy their second home,
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um who don't live in the area, uh who let it out to the holiday trade and many people using it for themselves. Um and yet we haven't got enough money to invest for the thousands and thousands of families in a place like Cornwall who have a desperate housing need. I mean that contrast sh-
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housing need. I mean that contrast surely if we're trying to if I'm trying to persuade the Minister to change his mind, surely having regulations in law which actually help us to manage this better because we've
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need. I mean that contrast surely
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to manage this better, because we've
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Because we've defined them better through planning law as well as registrations, then we can achieve then we can achieve
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and invest money better in social housingfor the people who need and deserve it.
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I'm very grateful to my, the member for St Ives for giving way again. I hope he does, notwithstanding some of the issues that it can create, welcome...
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New Keynesian roster.
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the issues that it can create, welcome the fact that dozens of high street businesses in his constituency and mine are being lifted out of the business rates system entirely through some of those valuations. I, I hope he can confirm that he does support those changes. But also does he agree with me that, that we actually need very much a coordinated approach to tackling the very stark example, the very real example
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I welcome that that intervention in the sense that what what he he gives me the opportunity to say is of course as far as
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hospitality and leisure exemptions small business rate relief for those
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public sector riches in many cases, certainly in my constituency as with his. on its knees as far as its future viability is concerned, I entirely
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And the point is that at the end of the day if if one was wanting to to disaggregate
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is that at the end of the day, if if one was wanting to to disaggregate the holiday letting fraternity from that that particular definition, this Bill is one means by which you can do it. So...
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one means by which you can do it. So you can, if, if you have a planning register where...
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you can if you have a planning register where where you can see them all
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far as their C6 category is concerned, it would help to say, and this category is exempt from the small business rate relief system. And then we're not wasting money, in my view wasting money, in that area, and we can invest that money where it is desperately needed. Does my honourable friend still wish to... Okay, no he doesn't. Okay, I'll... I know that time is moving on and I know that others...
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I thank the honourable member very much for giving way and I welcome him bringing a Bill on housing which is such an issue as he has said to constituents across the country. In London the dark flats, the flats not used by anyone, are a big issue for us.
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And at the same time we have over 8,000 people registered for in the social housing waiting list and 4,000 families in temporary accommodation, many mums criss-crossing London taking their children two bus journeys to school and back. So would he agree with me that it's not just an issue of having more homes but where...
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So would you agree with me that it's not just an issue of havinghomes but where those homes are
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I entirely agree, of course. And indeed I'm not suggesting, and indeed I'm well aware of the fact that although I've highlighted rural areas like my own and coastal areas, you know, the fact is that London and...
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of second homes as well. In fact, that helps me to come
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or adjoining
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was hoping to move on to,
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be would be extending those rights to identify land or buildings either in or or adjoining a community which would enable a a local community organisation to to to advance a project to deliver affordable homes for
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local communities. Now I I declared an interest as a professional in the in in in the past but certainly as a volunteer now within that sector and therefore have some experience of being involved with local
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some experience of being involved with local communities who wish to address their local housing needs. So this is the opposite to the NIMBY, this is the YIMBY, this is yes please in our backyard, we would like affordable homes, not more unaffordable homes as many local communities in areas like mine at the planning stage
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as many local communities in areas like mine the planning system seems to deliver for them, more affordable homes. So how can we do it? And the way they do it is to sit is to begin if all potential development sites are all taken is to is to to to undertake a call for land.
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a call for land. Now in many of the cases where I was doing this through through community land trusts and parish and town councils, uh that there would be no response because because the the the
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would be no response because, because the, the, the price available for affordable housing on rural exception sites would be significantly less, significantly more than the agricultural value which is currently available to the, to the landowner,
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significantly less, significantly more than the agricultural value which is currently available to the to the landowner, but would be less than might be available to that landowner by a factor of 10 or 100 easily if it were if it were to get planning permission for for unaffordable housing, for open market housing. And therefore
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housing for open market housing. And therefore um people uh landowners would not come forward with with with sites
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to deliver affordable housing. So the purpose of this of of of this part of the of the bill
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of this of of this part of the of the bill giving communities powers is is to is to enable them to identify that land and to identify that land as a as a as a community right and to follow that that that that particular purpose through. So it would strengthen the ability of communities through parish town council parish and town councils, community land trusts and other community-led organisations to meet unmet
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to meet unmet local housing need including through the delivery of in perpetuity social and affordable housing. Um now we in that there are a number of safeguards that the local that would be subject to local
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consultation, that it would have to be at a scale commensurate with, with the moderate growth of the community, that it would prevent the expropriation of private gardens and similar land, and it would be subject to a vacancy and utilisation test, and would have to demonstrate that it was only being used as a last resort after a call for land and all other measures had been pursued. I mean, the planning background...
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in places like Cornwall,
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that the... that in places like Cornwall, we followed for decades the policies of successive governments in meeting very high house building targets, and indeed the house building within Cornwall has been one of the fastest growing...
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We followed for decades
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fastest growing places in the United Kingdom almost trebling its housing stock in the last 60 years. And yet
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the housing problems of local people have got significantly worse. So one of the, one of the lessons that one learns from this is that simply pursuing a policy of a means to an end rather than
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Pursuing a policy of a means to an end rather than an end in itself.
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He makes a very good point.
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of abject failure and this policy would be one which would put need first rather than
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failure. And this policy would be one which would put need first rather than, rather than simply, rather than simply building, building, building homes. Because, I mean, yes, Cornwall's had its housing, its house building targets significantly increased, almost doubled as a result of the Government's change in house building targets. One of the consequences of that, in fact, is, is it's resulted in a counterproductive outcome, which is that sites which were previously
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sites which were previously identified for affordable homes, rural exception sites on the edge of of towns and villages
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verbal exception sites on the edge of towns and villages have as a result of
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to now
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words, all of the affordability has been stripped out of the development and planning inspectors have been obliged to to to to permit those those homes to be to be to be to be delivered purely as open market homes. And the reason why the planning inspectors have said that this is the case, and the Minister is is chuntering at me, I'm very happy to take an intervention from him if he wishes, is because the local authorities, because they had the rug pulled from one from from underneath them, are no longer able to demonstrate that they have a five-year supply of land. It takes two or three years
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identification of the five-year land supply prior
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because they had the rug pulled from underneath them, are no longer able to demonstrate that they have
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Just to clarify for the Honourable Gentleman...
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Hon. Gentleman where an adopted
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local plan was in place at the point we introduced the new NPPF. It's housing need requirementas per their adopted plan,
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Absolutely yes, as the system progresses.
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not the case to say that when we changed the NPPF in December 2024, that immediately across the country...
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that when we changed the NPPF in December 2024, that immediately across the country those new
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February 2020
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he hasn't explained that to
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five was very clear
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I'm very grateful to my honourable friend for that intervention. He's absolutely right.
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I think the I think the minister needs needs to look again at this. So the
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So, so, so the issues are that we have a situation where we need additional tools.
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I know the government has a series of concerns and that andtime I'll just quickly rattle through
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That I think is one that the government needs to look at. I mean, the problem with the housebuilding target approachIs this built on a delusion that private developers will
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Also, there would be other measures which we could introduce which would which would resolve these issues and provide additional safeguards. The government are
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It doesn't think the UKHSASee HRC guidelines apply. Surely we need more reassurance than they're gentleman's thoughts. And this is we're talking about housing
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the points be made, and I can see the
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incremental to me. Can he outline the scale of the difference he thinks this will make, bearing in mind—
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Well, that's a very interesting intervention. I mean this is a private member's, a backbench private member's bill. I don't have a magic wand, neither evidently does the government, to be able to change things immediately overnight. I'm not, this isn't going to change the tectonic
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overnight. I'm not—this isn't going to change the tectonic plates of policy. It is a private Member's Bill. This is dealing with one element where communities can respond to the desperate housing need within their own communities.
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reality of the situation that we're finding ourselves
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of course, but it's just that the bill's been presented within the context
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As far as as far as
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this massive housing emergency, and it would just just really good to get some clarity about how many additional homes would become available, you know, in Cornwall, say, if this bill was to be
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I'm very grateful to my honourable friend for that intervention. He's absolutely right, and I know that he's a very strong champion for his local community in Wokingham. And he's absolutely right that the primary purpose of this bill is to ensure that we deliver the social rented homes that the country so desperately needs, and that we don't lose them through the right to buy.
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find alternative routes in order to achieve this, then I will. I'll take this one out, you know, let's not, let's not allow this to kind of stall what is after all, in my view obviously, a...
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all, in my view obviously, a good idea which—which I think we should be pursuing. I know the Government will say that there is already powers in the existing planning framework and there is already routes to...
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larger for larger developers and the community led homes sector. has not found that that that that them easures are actually assisted them in achieving their
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assisted them in achieving their their outcome. The second part of the Bill is is the is the second and and holiday homes clauses 5 and and and 6 which I've referred to already and this would provide again community powers to control these adopted in areas which wish to pursue this. I need to re-emphasise
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course not uh driven by the politics of envy but by by the politics of social justice as I I hope I've been able to make uh clear already in the in the um in in my
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in the um in my own area I was speaking to a local uh recently this
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to make clear already. In the, in the, in, in my own area, I was speaking to a local recently—this was on the Isles of Scilly—that since his parents separated at the age of eight, he's now in his, his early 50s, he's moved over 60 times on the islands. 60 times on the islands, from garages to winter lets to temporary accommodation, and he, you know, holds down an important, you know, job
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you know, job on the island, as does his partner working in the public sector as well. I mean,
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Mr Holden, an important
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that is and that is not an unusual set of of circumstances. I know that some members think that
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funny, but it it's a it's a it's a it's a it's a serious issue in our own area.
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that's funny, but it's a, it's a, it's a, it's a, it's a serious issue in our own area.
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list, and a council that built less than 40 homes and haven't even brought back the homes that they had. So I don't find it funny that my Liberal Democrat council has failed to build homes, and I don't find it funny that the Liberal Democrats are trying to block homes being built across the country.
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haven't even brought back the homes that they had. So I don't find it funny that my Liberal Democrat council are literally it's like athe hon. Member for asking for them to do
- 10:14
Yeah. Of course. I mean across the country there is a... I mean there's 25,000 people on on the housing waiting list in in Cornwall. And and that according to the surveys which are which are...
- 10:14
certainly indicate that actually that is simply the tip of the iceberg. There are many people who don't put their names on the waiting list because they know that it's a complete waste of time, because they
- 10:14
fantastic speech on this issue which I know he's extremely passionate about and spent his life campaigning on. I'm hearing Members on the Government benches saying Cornwall needs to build more, but they clearly weren't listening to the Member's speech earlier when he said Cornwall
- 10:15
Well, of course I strongly agree with my honourable friend and certainly we, I know that planning consultants will often tell you privately that that
- 10:15
Well, of course I strongly agree with my honourable friend and certainly well I know that that planning consultants will often tell you privately that that that that when when there is an affordable element required within within their planning permission that that that often developers will go into their local authority with with with two viability assessments, one which they don't which they which they take in to show the local authority with violins and a sob story and another one in their back pocket which has very substantial profits for them for for themselves. And as a result of which the the the the portion of affordable homes which are delivered on on on many of these these these open market led sites diminishes very often to to to none at all. It is a system where I'm afraid cynicism has succeeded. So it's one that certainly I do hope that the government and I wish the government well in in in trying to bear down on that particular that particular problem. I I will because it's
- 10:16
of the number of interventions which I've taken, we've had a very interesting debate, I bring my bring my
- 10:16
also been supported by the Conservatives in the past, I don't know where they are at the moment, implemented by the Labour Party in Wales and indeed at
- 10:17
On second homes becoming a use class, as part of our wider
- 10:17
about additional powers we might give local authorities, I'm more than happy to have have a conversation on
- 10:17
time and I don't know why it's still not in his mind now because certainly it is something which
- 10:17
the time, and I don't know...
- 10:17
not in in his mind now because certainly it is something which would which would assist local communities. I
- 10:17
which would assist local communities. I believe that the, the, the this Bill represents a range of, of modest...
- 10:17
modest measures, necessarily modest measures, because it's a private member's
- 10:18
Which which would be available to communities to address serious housing problems?
- 10:18
the second part of the Bill
- 10:18
Thank you very much, Madam Deputy Speaker.
- 10:18
The question is that the bill now be read a second time. I call Samantha Dixon.
- 10:18
Madam Deputy Speaker, protecting our affordable housing stock is vital as we continue to pass through this cost of living
- 10:18
provision, and residents have continuously voiced concerns about access to affordable housing across the constituency as a whole.
- 10:19
towns like Neston, younger people and those on lower incomes are being pushed out by the lack of affordability...
- 10:19
The question is as on the order paper. As many as are of that opinion say aye. Aye. Of the contrary no. No. I think the ayes have it. The ayes have it.
- 10:19
leaving historic settlements less
- 10:20
of affordable homes is disheartening and strengthens my commitment to improving this situation, a commitment I know is shared by this Labour government. With this in mind, I recognise the ambitions of the Honourable Member for St Ives's Bill. The delegation of greater power to local communities who know their areas with a depth and cultural
- 10:20
Mann of its proposals began to feel somewhat similar. To take one example, let us consider the bill's clauses which would require any housing association
- 10:20
for that reason, when reading this Bill, many of its proposals began to feel somewhat similar. To take one example, let us consider the Bill's clauses which would require any housing associations seeking to dispose of homes to give preference to local community bodies. If this sounds familiar to you, Madam Deputy Speaker, it's because the Social Housing Bill, which has been extensively debated and will soon return to this Chamber, contains requirements for housing associations to notify registered providers in their local area when selling homes out of the regulated sector. This replication of work already undertaken or in progress continues throughout the Bill we're discussing today, touching on business rates, right to buy, and measuring housing need, to mention but a few examples. I've seen the Honourable Member...
- 10:21
need to mention but a few examples. I've seen the honourable Member opposite's passionate and dedicated campaigning in this area, and I truly believe in his commitment to delivering for his constituents. It's clear to me that he shares my own commitment to improving access to affordable housing. However, I remain concerned that by passing this
- 10:21
access to affordable housing. However, I remain concerned that by passing this Bill into law, a real risk exists in duplicating work already undertaken by the Government and muddying the waters. Building more social and affordable housing is central to continuing the robust economic growth that we've seen in this country over the past two years...
- 10:22
the past two years, and I believe that passing this legislation may create the potential for confusion and unnecessary...
- 10:22
I thank the honourable Member for giving way. I'm going to have to be careful not to stand on...
- 10:22
I'm going to have to be careful not to stand on the dog. The honourable member says that passing...
- 10:22
to build more social and affordable homes. I don't think anybody on this side of the House is against building more social and affordable homes. The problem is that so many of those homes that exist and that are built in areas like the Honourable Member's of St Ives and mine in South Devon become second homes and holiday lets. And what what this Bill is trying to do is to prevent those homes leaking out of the housing system, which is much needed for residential dwellings, because it doesn't matter how many you build if you can't put a cap on how many second homes and holiday lets there are.
- 10:23
Because it doesn't matter how many you build, if you can't put a cap on how many second homes and holiday lets there are, local people still cannot get a home.
- 10:23
Thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker. I acknowledge the hon. Member's points and I'm sure that the Minister will be responding to them in due course.
- 10:23
member who's brought forward this private member's bill is right to highlight in particular the rapid growth of short-term lets in our communities. Chester has a strong heritage and leisure industry that attracts hundreds of thousands of
- 10:23
every year, and the growth of our visitor economy has risen in step with the number of short-term lets.
- 10:23
in the private rented sector. This in turn may drive up rents for hard-pressed families.
- 10:23
rents for hard-pressed families. It's right that this issue is given the attention we're giving it today. Short-term lets certainly have their place in a vibrant tourism economy across the UK. Indeed, I'm proud that Sykes Cottages
- 10:24
Indeed, I'm proud that Sykes Cottages
- 10:24
Nonetheless, the growth in this sector must not come at the expense of our local communities. In light
- 10:24
the power to balance local need for affordable housing while still benefiting from tourism in their areas.Again, the short-term lets register will take
- 10:24
I thank the honourable member for giving way. And...
- 10:25
just wanted to pick up the point on the registration scheme. The Cornish MPs have met with the Minister
- 10:25
I just wanted to pick up the point on the registration scheme. The Cornish MPs have met with the Minister for
- 10:25
a voluntary scheme, where holiday lets can voluntarily register themselves on the scheme. And there's actually currently a data
- 10:25
And there's actually currently a data issue that local authorities can't even access that data on a specific level.
- 10:25
data on a specific level to really even see the scale of the problem in some of our constituencies.
- 10:25
scale of the problem in some of our constituencies?
- 10:25
the hon. Member's point and as I said I'm sure that the my friend the Minister of State will be listening will
- 10:25
I'm...
- 10:25
I'm Thank you Thank you for giving way and I think my hon. Friend made the point that the registration scheme does move us forward some way, but for a
- 10:25
I
- 10:26
I again acknowledge the points the hon. Members are raising and I'm sure that the Minister of State is keen to respond. later in the debate to these particular issues. I'd like to be clear on this particular point that the hon. Member for
- 10:26
Chamberlain risks being lost in an
- 10:26
in a very busy and active policy landscape and would
- 10:26
Our focus, and I'm sure the government's focus, is working hard on ensuring that government policyin this area is robust and delivered at pace
- 10:27
to bring about the real progress for our residents
- 10:27
across the whole country. Thank you.
- 10:27
Thank you very much. Can I start by congratulating the honourable member for St Ives and doing so well in the private members' bill and bringing forward this, this bill.
- 10:27
bill. He first brought forward his affordable homes bill to this House back in 2014, and whilst we have many differences in terms of what the remedies might be to deal with this, this particular challenge, his...
- 10:27
His persistence on this issue does
- 10:27
with this, this particular challenge, his...
- 10:27
the House knows, the planning provisions in this Bill will not apply in Scotland, where housing and planning are devolved to the Scottish Government, but the problems it tries to tackle do not stop at the border.
- 10:27
deserve respect.
- 10:27
not stop at the border. Families in the Scottish Borders face the same struggle as those in West Cornwall.
- 10:28
Thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker.
- 10:28
want to use this debate to set out what that looks like in the Scottish Borders and the lessons it holds for us, for both Governments. Now let me start with the, the scale of the problem.
- 10:28
the scale of the problem. In 2024, the Scottish Parliament declared a national housing emergency. More than two years...
- 10:28
national housing emergency. Moore than two years on, the figures continue to head in the wrong direction.In the year to March 2026, 17,268 new homes were completed in Scotland,2,000 fewer than the year before. Completions of affordable homes fell to their lowest level in a decade.
- 10:28
In the year to June, social sector
- 10:28
affordable homes fell to their lowest level in a decade. In the year to June, social sector completions were the lowest since 2007. Now the Scottish Government, the SNP Government, have promised 110,000 affordable homes by 2032. By the end of June this year, 36,518 had been delivered, barely a third of that target. Shelter Scotland
- 10:29
Thank you, Mr Deputy Speaker. I beg to move that the Bill be now read a Second time.
- 10:29
and the Chartered Institute of Housing say Scotland needs almost 15,700 social and affordable homes every single year. Currently...
- 10:29
barely a third of that target. Shelter Scotland, the Scottish Federation of Housing Associations and the Chartered Institute of Housing say Scotland needs almost 15,700 social and affordable homes every single year. Currently, delivery is less than half of that. Now, Madam Deputy Speaker, behind those numbers are real families. At the end of September last year, 10,480 children in Scotland were left living in temporary accommodation. That is more than 10,000 children without a safe, reliable, stable place to call home. It doesn't have to be that way. When the SNP Government cut the affordable housing budget in 2024, housing associations and councils explicitly warned them of the serious consequences.
- 10:29
I do thank him for giving way and I do want to add just a little bit of detail for the people who still think that the SNP-Green government as it was was somehow virtuous. The cut that he was referring to was 26% in the affordable housing budget. Absolutely incredible. And the 2007 year date is very important because...
- 10:30
date is very important because that was the year the SNP government first came to power. And housing, housing starts and completions now are lower today than they were back then. Is this not an absolute disgrace?
- 10:30
I agree with the honourable member, it's an absolute scandal what the Scottish government, SNP government have done to housing in Scotland. It's affecting his constituency just as it affects my own. And I just want to dwell a little bit about how the national picture has been felt in my own constituency. Now, Scottish Borders Council has declared a local housing emergency, and that's not a phrase any council uses lightly. Now, I pay tribute to my local housing associations in the Borders: Eildon, Berwickshire Housing Association, Scottish Borders Housing Association and Waverley. Since the council transferred its housing stock, they have been the only providers of social rented homes in the Borders and they build homes of real quality. But look at last year's figures, but looking at last year's figures, it's just not enough. The Scottish government allocated £16.2 million to the Borders for affordable...
- 10:31
year's figures, it's just not enough. The Scottish Government allocated £16.2 million to the Borders for affordable housing, yet only £10.8 million of that was actually spent. Just 94 affordable homes were delivered against a target of 141. When the money allocated to fix the housing crisis cannot be spent, something in the system is broken.
- 10:31
broken. Maybe it's the availability of land, maybe it's the cost of building in rural areas, or maybe it's
- 10:32
are the questions that I'm going to keep pursuing to get answers for. Now this brings me to rural...
- 10:32
to get answers for. Now this brings me to rural housing in particular. Too many national housing programmes are designed with cities and big towns in mind. In a village in Berwickshire or in the Teviot Valley, a development is six or 10 homes, not 600. There are fewer contractors, connecting to water and electricity costs...
- 10:32
is higher. Too often the numbers
- 10:32
often the numbers simply do not stack up. Rural communities need support for small sites and small local builders.
- 10:32
and small local builders. They need backing for community-led housing, and they need flexibility
- 10:33
and mortar; it's about the future of rural communities. Now the Honourable Member's Bill puts a particular focus on second homes, and I understand why. In parts of Cornwall the concentration is extraordinary. But I want to offer a slightly different perspective from the Scottish Borders. I am not opposed to second homes. In many of
- 10:33
to second homes. In many of our smaller and more isolated communities, second home owners are a lifeline. They
- 10:33
a lifeline. They shop in the village store, eat in the local pub, hire local tradespeople and support businesses that would otherwise struggle through the quieter months. Many have deep family roots in the Borders and many...
- 10:33
Mann go on to make it their permanent home. Second homes already make a contribution inScottish Borders. Scottish Borders Council
- 10:33
charges a cancer tax premium on them and uses that money to help fund affordable housing and bring empty homesback into use. So the answer I would suggest is a balance.
- 10:34
the tools to act. But in the Borders, the main problem is not too many second homes, it is
- 10:34
too many second homes, it is too few new homes. Blaming second home owners is easy. Building the homes
- 10:34
is easy, building the homes we need is harder and that is the task in front of us. Now—yes.
- 10:34
I'm very grateful to the Honourable Gentleman for giving way. I don't think anyone's blaming individuals, and indeed I...
- 10:34
to the honourable gentleman for giving way. I don't think anyone's blaming individuals, and indeed I am—I acknowledge that that second home owners bring a great deal to to the local communities and many are very strong champions and supporters of local initiatives in the way that he describes. The purpose of this is simply giving—
- 10:34
and indeed I'm acknowledge that that second homeowners bring
- 10:34
in order to cap numbers where they think that it may get out of hand.
- 10:34
honourable member makes an important point. I do think it's about, it's about balance. We don't want to stigmatise
- 10:35
coming into rural communities and keeping the village shop open, keeping the tradesmen going during the harder months. There is, I believe, a balance to be reached, and in many cases I think the powers that councils...
- 10:35
certainly in Scotland, are already there to allow that balance to be reached, like the second home council tax...
- 10:35
to be reached like the second home council tax premium, but I just think we need to be careful
- 10:35
builders in Scotland say that a shrinking supply of land and poor viability are behind the fall in house building. Planning departments are under-resourced and decision-making takes too long. In the Borders, there is a particular
- 10:35
particular pressure that I want the House to understand, and that's the sheer volume of large electricity infrastructure projects.
- 10:35
that is the sheer volume of large electricity infrastructure projects. Wind farms, battery storage, data centres, grid upgrades that have resulted in massive pylons coming across the Borders have made the Borders the epicentre for the expansion
- 10:36
have made the Borders the epicentre for the expansion of the energy network. Now, most large wind farms are decided by Scottish minis- ministers
- 10:36
Consents Unit, not by the council. But the council must still assess each application, respond as a consultee, work through the environmental information and answer to local residents. These applications are often vast and complex. In the past year alone, the council's planning committee has had to consider proposals such as Faw Law and Glen Burnie.
- 10:36
As a Dutch law where the Council
- 10:36
Ministers can and do over
- 10:36
action to review the decision of the government. Now all of this falls on a planning service which has had little extra support from the Scottish Government. Every hour a planning officer spends on a 200-metre turbine...
- 10:36
a 200-metre turbine is an hour not spent on an application for six family homes in a Borders village.
- 10:36
to the works
- 10:37
public supply and resource, and they must also give local communities a proper say. Now, the final point, Madam Deputy Speaker, I want toas well on is infrastructure. In my experience, communities are not against new homes. What they are against
- 10:37
are new homes without GP appointments, school places, roads, water and drainage that go with them?
- 10:37
necessary infrastructure being put in place.
- 10:37
that means transport, it means rural schools and nurseries, it means properly staffed rural schools and nurseries, it means bus services to all
- 10:37
and it means roads without potholes. So to conclude, Madam Deputy Speaker, the Honourable Member for St Ives is absolutely right to raise these issues. Whether it's in Cornwall or in the Scottish Borders, the message is
- 10:37
Borders, the message is the same. People need homes they can afford in the communities they love. That means building more homes. It means a planning system with the resources to do its job. It means recognising...
- 10:38
A deference and it means putting infrastructure in first. The Scottish government must do better by their rural communities.
- 10:38
I will keep pressing them and I hope the UK government will to act on behalf of the families across the Scottish Scottish borders.
- 10:38
You simply want a place to call home. Thank you.
- 10:38
Thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker. I want to start my contribution this morning by recognising the excellent intentions behind this bill and ensuring
- 10:38
Steff Aquarone
- 10:38
around the importance of ensuring that that local people have access to decent and affordable homes. These are absolutely ambitions that I'm sure the whole House shares with the hon. Member for St Ives, and they are
- 10:39
is also committed to delivering. However,
- 10:39
delivering. However, having considered the Bull and the Government’s assessment of its proposals, I do find it difficult to support it. The fundamental problem, I believe, is that much of what the hon. Member seeks to achieve is eitherCovid-19 by existing powers or being addressed through legislation already before Parliament. In a second I will do.
- 10:39
can be delivered through government's existing housing programmes without the need for further primary legislation. Happy to give way.
- 10:39
point me to current legislation or upcoming legislation where things that the honourable member for St Ives has described...
- 10:39
the honourable Member for St Ives has described, such as the second homes and holiday let issue that has really added fuel to the fire of the housing crisis, where that is specifically in Government legislation either...
- 10:40
I thank the honourable Member for his intervention and I'll give him a number of examples. So the Government is already strengthening the ability of local authorities to work with communities through the neighbourhood planning and existing planning powers. We have the Social Housing Bill, which is already addressing...
- 10:40
government is already strengthening the ability of local authorities to work with communities through neighbourhood planning and existing planning powers. We have the Social Housing Bill, which is already addressing issues around the disposal of social housing assets, and changes also to the types of intermediate housing that can receive government funding. So I question what further value this Bill would actually deliver. If you take the provisions on second homes and holiday lets...
- 10:40
deliver. If you take the provisions on second homes and holiday lets, of course, I appreciate these are significant issues in some parts of the country, particularly in coastal and rural areas and communities in the south-west of England. Of course I appreciate that, to the honourable mem-
- 10:41
to the honourable member's point, but they are not in any way a defining feature of the housing market
- 10:41
I mean, the honourable Member actually helps to make my point that
- 10:41
examples he gave are totally irrelevant, by the way, to the—to the relevance of my Bill, but he actually...
- 10:41
I thank the honourable member for his intervention. And of course, apart from that issue around second homes...
- 10:41
his intervention. And of course, apart from that issue around second homes, if I think about my own constituency, the issue that residents regularly raise with me is not second homes, but it's actually the growing concentration...
- 10:42
residents regularly raise with me is not second homes, but it's actually the growing concentration of houses in multiple occupation or HMOs. I've spoken previously in this, in the House about the impact that those excessive concentrations
- 10:42
in multiple occupation, or HMOs. I've spoken previously in the House about the impact that those excessive concentrations have on neighbourhoods in areas like mine. And I do therefore, Madam Deputy Speaker, want to put on record my strong welcome for the work now being undertaken by Mansfield District Council to assess the case for an...
- 10:42
mine. And I do therefore, Madam Deputy Speaker, want to put on record my strong welcome for the work now being undertaken by Mansfield District Council to assess the case for an Article 4 direction in that respect. Of course, this follows concerns raised by local residents and representations that I've made over the past year. And I'm pleased that the council in Mansfield and other local authorities and the government are taking those concerns seriously and moving to giving local communities like mine a greater say over what happens in their neighbourhoods.
- 10:43
I thank my honourable friend for giving way. In Southend we hear similar concerns...
- 10:43
hear from my honourable friend, and I'm proud of Southend City Council who have put a hundred million pounds...
- 10:43
friend. And I'm proud of Southend City Council who have put £100 million towards new social housing and acquiring housing for social housing. But does he agree with me that often the issue here and across the whole country is about political will? So for example, the local plan situation in Southend is being frustrated by...
- 10:44
Well I, Madam Deputy Speaker, I thank the honourable member for his intervention and I agree with him completely and he raises a very, very important point I think. And let me say in conclusion, I think...
- 10:44
Of course, we all know that a Private Member's Bull is a very valuable opportunity. Members right across the House have very limited opportunity to bring forward legislation.And I think this opportunity has really been used to revisit measures where work is already underway rather than concentrating on some of the genuine gaps in our housing system.I would suggest that a
- 10:45
would produce a more useful bill, and for those reasons I support the Government's
- 10:45
Madam Deputy Speaker, and it's a great...
- 10:45
Deputy Speaker, and it's a great...
- 10:45
Madam Deputy Speaker, and it's a great privilege to rise to speak in full and fulsome support of the...
- 10:45
of my honourable friend the member for St Ives, who I'd like to just pay a brief tribute to
- 10:45
St Ives, who I'd like to just pay a brief tribute to. He has spent many years campaigning on this issue, with such passion and dedication, and even when he took a brief sabbatical from this place, he carried on that passion and determination, and he was determined to pursue the measures that he has laid before this House today. So I pay tribute to him, I thank him, and he's certainly been an...
- 10:45
thank him, and he's certainly been an inspiration for me as a young person coming into politics in Cornwall and seeing that dedication to people in Cornwall, like myself actually, who grew up there and
- 10:46
people in Cornwall, like myself actually, who grew up there and
- 10:46
Cornwall and seeing that dedication to people in Cornwall, like myself actually, who grew up there and felt had no option but to move away from Cornwall when I turned 18 because there simply wasn't any opportunities in terms of careers and further education, but also in terms of any kind of hope of affording my own home and raising a family in Cornwall. It's obviously an immense privilege that I've managed to return to Cornwall as its, North Cornwall as its Member of Parliament. But the things that the Honourable...
- 10:46
the hon. Member for St Ives are proposing
- 10:46
unfortunately, Madam Deputy Speaker, are not not new things. We've been stood in this Chamber for decades and decades
- 10:46
unfortunately, Madam Deputy Speaker, are not...
- 10:46
stood in this Chamber for decades and decades talking about these issues. In fact, one of my predecessors for
- 10:46
one of my predecessors, former Honourable Member for North Cornwall John Pardoe, which some members may or may not...
- 10:47
He said that the Government's approach to planning is not working. He said that the Government's approach to planning is not working.
- 10:47
young people. He said the tragedy facing so many of the people I represent in North Cornwall is the knowledge that the stock of housing on which they must rely, namely the housing provided by local authori—
- 10:47
who has more second homes
- 10:47
than council houses. And yet here we are again, Madam Deputy Speaker, it almost feelsIt's like Groundhog Day, debating once again the abject failure by successive
- 10:48
government of one
- 10:48
homes that they can actually afford to rent.
- 10:48
I thank the honourable member for giving way.
- 10:48
giving way, and I certainly have a lot of empathy for the fact that progress has been slow over...
- 10:48
the second Homes, the
- 10:48
looking those changes, there is actually some light at the end of the tunnel in this long journey to ensuring that
- 10:48
and homeowners pay their fairway and will he call on the Liberal Democrat council locallySo like an economic impact study of what that's done to the housing market lately.
- 10:49
Apologies, Madam Deputy Speaker, I didn't quite catch his last point, but on the stamp duty point, I was proud to walk through him
- 10:49
walk through him—with him in these Lobbies in support of that. But that was unfortunately a very incremental change.
- 10:49
incremental change, which I know from anecdotal experience has not deterred, I don't think, a single person from turning a residential property into a second home. I think it was something like two per cent
- 10:49
I suspect many of those house buyers won't baulk at the thought of an extra one or two per cent stamp duty.But of course I welcome it, and I agree with the hon. Gentleman there, the kinds of steps that need to be taken.
- 10:49
Thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker. I congratulate my honourable friend the Member for North Cornwall...
- 10:49
ladder for decades have struggled to rent a home because they're all being
- 10:50
Second Homes and Planning Bull: Second Reading.
- 10:50
reiterate the point that we need to see the data, we need to see the impact of those measures that this Labour government has overseen.
- 10:50
I think anecdotes are one thing, but we do I think we are starting to see a change in behaviour of second homeowners as a
- 10:50
the data before this House. But I must admit, Madam Deputy Speaker, I am really struggling with some of...
- 10:50
opposition coming from the government benches to this bill. We've heard it's not radical enough. We've heard we need to build more homes. Well, I've got a stat here, the honourable member for St Austell and Newquay...
- 10:50
before this House, but I must admit, Madam Deputy Speaker, I
- 10:50
he wanted data between 61 and
- 10:50
homes, which is social rented homes?
- 10:50
During the 2000s, Cornwall built 770 homes for every
- 10:50
2011 Cornwall
- 10:51
new residents. That was double the national average at the time of 377. We're not short of building, we're not short of homes, we're not short of houses in Cornwall, Madam Deputy Speaker. We've got record, I can see the Conservative member there chuntering from a sedentary position, I'm happy to give way. We're not short of residential properties that are being built every year, but as I highlighted earlier during the honourable member...
- 10:51
Honourable Member for St Ives's speech, many of those homes get built and then are very rapidly turned into
- 10:51
Thank you, Mr Deputy Speaker. It's a pleasure to follow my honourable friend the member for North Cornwall, who made an excellent speech, and to congratulate my honourable friend the member for St Ives on bringing forward this excellent Bill, which I'm very pleased to be a co-sponsor of.
- 10:51
to give local areas the choice, the powers and decision-making abilities to decide if certain parts of the country
- 10:51
to decide if certain parts of the country, like for exampletowns and villages in my North Cornwall constituency
- 10:52
example towns and villages in my North Cornwall constituency, St Minver Lowlands for example, which has 71% non-first homes
- 10:52
like his constituency and my constituency of St Ives is that the planning system is currently completely blind to the difference between a home which is intended for permanent residential use and a property which is intended for use as a holiday let or a second home, and that this Bill will actually resolve that problem?
- 10:52
attempts to bring forward
- 10:52
giving those areas the right to choose and giving them the power to just balance the market andthe hon. Member for St Ives said, "We're not
- 10:52
local people, local authorities, local areas
- 10:53
market. And as the honourable member from St Ives said, we're not against second home owners and we're certainly not against holiday let owners. That's an important part of our accommodation mix in Cornwall for the tourism industry. But where it gets to maybe over 70%, may I humbly suggest that's possibly too much. And actually when we've got a housing waiting list in Cornwall, despite those massive house building numbers I've already pointed to, when we've got a housing register list of over 25,000 families who can't find a safe and a warm place to live, Madam Deputy Speaker, I'd suggest in those specific areas we maybe give local people
- 10:53
areas we maybe give local people
- 10:53
how many and where those holiday lets and second homes might be appropriate. The Honourable Member for St Ives also touched on the council tax loophole and I know that's been touched on by members on the Government side as well, quite rightly.
- 10:53
that's been touched on by members on the government side as well, quite rightly, where holiday homes can be quite easily flipped to holiday lets. They then qualify for business rates and in many cases small business
- 10:54
in many cases small business rate relief. So they don't pay the double council tax, Madam Deputy Speaker, and they don't pay any business rates at all. In fact, they just don't pay any tax full stop.
- 10:54
any business rates at all. In fact, they just don't pay any tax full stop. So I'd really welcome the Minister's thoughts on that loophole, which as I understand it can be backdated several, several years. And...
- 10:54
several years. And I also just wanted to touch on, if I may briefly, Madam Deputy Speaker, the infrastructure
- 10:54
up in the hands of local residents as they should. But we also see in Cornwall, as well as a lack of infrastructure, we also see a lack of affordable housing. And I'd really welcome the Minister's thoughts on how we can ensure that the homes that are built in Cornwall are affordable for local people.
- 10:54
they should. But we also see in Cornwall, as well as a housing crisis, we now have an infrastructure crisis. In my town of Bodmin, the largest in my constituency, the surgery there is operating at 100
- 10:55
In my town of Bodmin, the largest in my constituency, the surgery there is operating at 160% capacity, and yet we cannot get a new surgery building past the local ICB. We've got part funding, but we haven't got full funding. And yet by 2030, Bodmin will see three and a half thousand more homes built.
- 10:55
half thousand more homes built there. So unless these new homes come with the infrastructure, we're storing up enormous
- 10:55
As has been mentioned, I say to the honourable gentleman again, one of the most...
- 10:55
get an up-to-date plan in place.
- 10:56
do, it takes years to put together neighbourhood plans, and lots of those were disregarded when the new legislation
- 10:56
do, it takes years to put
- 10:56
to put together neighbourhood plans, and lots of those were disregarded when the new legislation came forward. So hopefully the Minister can say something on that, particularly as we move forward with our Cornish devolution deal, that perhaps something can come with that. I also just wanted to very briefly take the rare opportunity to praise...
- 10:56
praise the Conservative government. I'm not found in this House to do that very often, and I have to...
- 10:56
I appreciate the honourable member giving way. It's lovely to see the coalition beginning its comeback in this chamber.
- 10:57
It's lovely to see the coalition getting its comeback in this Chamber, because for me, my plain reason for opposing this Bill is the fact that under the coalition particularly, capacity at planning local authority level was totally gutted, and councils have absolutely no capacity to do this. And that leaves failing local authorities like Lib Dem-led Cherwell in my constituency, which is under special measures because of its failures to deal with planning...
- 10:57
constituency, which is under special measures because of its failures to deal with planning, the idea of giving them more stuff to decide upon, I think is frankly ludicrous.Doesn't he see the logic in that? He makes a very good point, Madam Deputy Speaker, and of coursethe the government, his government, have centralised the planning policy, so my council is in North Cornwall have virtually no saynow about planning applications, be it on infrastructure, be it on affordable homes and
- 10:58
What a contrast when I was reaching out cross-party to praise other parties who
- 10:58
of Cornwall. I'd happily work with Conservative Members, I'd work with Members across this House to make positive changes for my constituents. So perhaps contrast with some of the cheap political points that he rose to make.
- 10:58
perhaps contrast with some of the cheap political points that he raised to me. And just to finish, Madam Deputy Speaker, I really want to emphasise that this is already being done in other parts of the United Kingdom. We've seen the Labour Government in Wales introducing much of what my honourable friend
- 10:58
Labour government in Wales introducing much of what my hon. Friend for St Ives
- 10:59
my honourable friend for St Ives is seeking to bring before this House today. So finally, Madam Deputy Speaker, I just want to re-emphasise my commitment to people in my constituency, like Sarah and Frank who live
- 10:59
is seeking to bring before this House today.
- 10:59
re-emphasise my commitment to people in my constituency, like Sarah and Frank, who live in Rock and have been sofa-surfing now for nine months because they can't afford to rent anywhere. And as the honourable member earlier said, when you go on Rightmove now and look for rental accommodation, there's very, very few available because guess...
- 10:59
in Rook and have been safe as
- 10:59
accommodation um
- 10:59
But I just hope that today isn't the end of the conversation. I mentioned my predecessor from the '60s talking about how I keep this issueWe've seen Cormann and we've heard
- 11:00
other parts of the country, other honourable members as well. And I do hope that the Minister is listening and that he will finally take action on an issue which has literally gone on for decades and
- 11:00
sector and make sure our local
- 11:00
Michelle Scrogham.
- 11:00
Thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker, and thank you for the opportunity
- 11:00
Thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker, and thank you for the opportunity to speak in this debate.
- 11:00
concerns that this Bill seeks to address are genuine. Across the country, too many families are struggling to access secure and affordable housing. Young people are finding home ownership increasingly out of reach, social housing waiting lists
- 11:00
Social housing waiting lists remain far too long, and in many communities, the growth of second homes and short-term lets has placed further pressure on already limited housing stock. Private rental
- 11:01
conditions where private tenants are forced to live
- 11:01
forced to live. Now these are important challenges and it's right that we dedicate time to solving them. However, I'm not convinced that this Bill provides the remedy. The Bill focuses on identifying opportunities for affordable hous-
- 11:01
the remedy. The Bill focuses on identifying opportunities for affordable housing through the assets of community value process. Now this requires parish and town councils, community land trusts and local charities to identify vacant or unused buildings...
- 11:01
local charities to identify vacant or unused buildings or land suitable for affordable housing. Now at present, these assets
- 11:01
for affordable housing. Now at present these assets can include pubs, village shops, community centres or libraries amongst others.
- 11:01
The hon. Member wants to expand this framework to include land that is vacant or substantially unused.
- 11:02
The parties, sorry, the members' party were members of the coalition government that introduced this legislation.
- 11:02
this legislation. If they believed that that framework needed strengthening to support affordable housing, why didn't they do that when they were in government? The difficulty is that identifying land is not the same as building homes.
- 11:02
as building homes. Like other members of this house, I'm aware of many derelict and unused sites in my...
- 11:02
that the Government has brought forward this Bill, and I'm pleased that the Government has brought forward this Bill
- 11:02
I'm very grateful to the honourable lady for giving way.
- 11:02
thank her for giving way and I think she's making a really important point there that we can make a lot of changes to planning and and rules and regulations, but ultimately what matters for delivery is
- 11:02
point does she welcome the 40 billion or so that we're putting into social and affordable homes as this Labour
- 11:03
side for local community organizations to work on those kind
- 11:03
I thank my hon. Friend for the intervention and I absolutely would agree. It's this government's interventions and funding that will make those changes.
- 11:03
I thank my honourable friend for...
- 11:03
This bill, though, is creating additional expectations without actually addressing the problem of the delivery.
- 11:03
His party weren't powerless. They were powerless observers during the worsening of our housing crisis. They spent five years in government.They sat at the Cabinet table, they voted for coalition budgets, they supported the policies that saw local government funding slashed and planning departments across the country stretched ever more thinly.If they believed local communities needed stronger powers to bring forward affordable housing sites, why didn't they legislate for that when they were in office?
- 11:04
The truth is that too often the Liberal Democrats will seek to campaign against consequences of the decisions that they helped to make.
- 11:04
This Labour government are pursuing a comprehensive strategy to tackle the housing crisis. With committed to delivering one and a half million social homes over this Parliament.
- 11:04
At the 2025 Spending Review, the Government, as has been mentioned, confirmed £39 billion in funding over the next 10 years.This provides certainty for the first time for powers to plan ambitious housing development projects over the next 10 years.
- 11:04
I will happily give way. I thank the hon. Member for
- 11:05
in that area is being done.
- 11:05
Wei, I'm still failingto understand what measures the hon. Member's government is taking to tackle those second
- 11:05
welcome the hon. Member's intervention, and what I would say is that this Government have brought in the powers to tackle that with increasing the taxes, and my own
- 11:05
is that this government have brought in the powers to tackle that with increasing the taxes. And my own Liberal Democrat run council in Westmorland and Furness have actually benefited several hundred million pounds because of that tax. What does worry me though is that they haven't actually tackled the heart of the problem. We have nearly 8,000 households that are waiting for affordable houses in my constituency. And they what they've got is
- 11:05
And yet, West London Furnishcouncil, which is Liberal Democrat-run, have failed to do that. It's the fifth highest in England for long-term empty housing. So,
- 11:06
they talk to their colleagues and maybe press for some change there.
- 11:06
powers to deliver on these commitments. We're reforming the national planning policy framework, restoring mandatory housing targets for local
- 11:06
application process was too lengthy, too complex and time-consuming. This government is devolving power to regional mayors and combined
- 11:06
This government is devolving power to regional mayors and combined authorities to give them greater power over the spending on house building and allowing them to address household regional
- 11:06
put the money directly back into housebuilding.
- 11:07
By reducing barriers, we are getting Britain building again. And while I respect the intentions behind this Bull, I do not believe that it provides the scale of reform necessary to meet the building challenge faced by this country.
- 11:07
Nor can I ignore the irony of taking lectures from a party that had five years in government to address many of these issues and failed to do so.
- 11:07
cannot support this bill and would instead back this government's programme to deliver the social and affordable homes that Britain needs.
- 11:07
Sarah Gibson
- 11:07
it's important that we remember that the last time that this country consistently built the number of houses that I think right across this House we agree we need was in the 1960s when councils were building.
- 11:07
houses. And if we are going to suggest that a new Labour Government who's had two and a half years to get it right is still going to blame a small amount of coalition that the Liberal Democrats had in a fairly powerless time some 10 years ago, I think really you need to be looking...
- 11:08
had in a fairly powerless time some 10 years ago. I think really you need to be looking forward and concentrating
- 11:08
This Labour government delivered the highest number of council homes
- 11:08
homes since records began in 1991-92.
- 11:08
Since records began in 1991-92, last year.
- 11:08
I do recognise that, but we are still nowhere near the levels that we were when councils were actually building.And I think it's important because for too long, and even under this Labour government, we are
- 11:08
crisis is more planning permissions in the hope that the market will deliver. And we know it will not.
- 11:08
in housing policy, that land, planning and delivery cannot be separated from one
- 11:09
to the other. As the hon. Member mentioned, you can deliver planning applications
- 11:09
architect, I have spent most of my adult life trying to deliver buildings on the ground and actually get...
- 11:09
my adult life trying to deliver buildings on the ground and actually get things built. And one of the problems that I repeatedly see is land passing from one developer to another while the planning application process takes so long. And while each of those transactions, the price increase on the land and the hope value...
- 11:09
Make it time that by the time the
- 11:09
price paid for the land and the expectations on that future
- 11:09
member for giving way. She is making a very good case for Development Corporation.
- 11:09
actually, would you agree that the recently, I think yesterday, announced SRSs, spatial regional strategies, are a good step forward to doing that strategic planning that you areyou are asking for and I think we all agree is needed. Absolutely, and I and I do recognise that this government is working towards this, which is why
- 11:10
is why I feel very strongly that the Honourable Member's Bill today is adding to the work that the Government is doing, not detracting from it. And we have seen over the years this squeezing of the affordable housing—it's the thing that gets removed every time there's an economic crisis or every time there is an economic case for it—the social housing, the infrastructure, and also the quality of the place itself. Which is why I particularly welcome the compulsory purchase provisions in this Bill, because it deals with the issues of affordability...
- 11:10
we purchase provisions in this bill because it deals with the issues of affordability for
- 11:10
housing associations and for for local government to actually be able to put forwardsome of this this building. Authorities need to be able to secure the land at a valuemakes these homes deliverable, rather than allowing
- 11:11
of future development value to consume the viability of the scheme before a single home
- 11:11
I speak regularly to the housing providers, to the social housing providers in my area, and
- 11:11
We also need to look again at who actually builds the homes.
- 11:11
the problems of relying on developers to construct the
- 11:11
the wrong type of house, the wrong specification
- 11:11
And increasingly, they may leave the provider facing additional costs of bringing these homes up to the standards that they willwill be required to meet. By 2030, social household social landlords will need to havenew minimum energy efficiency standards, and providers are therefore being asked to
- 11:12
I will.
- 11:12
I will. I welcome her and thank you for the intervention. Is she saying that actually people that live in social housing shouldn't have those elements into their
- 11:12
or new build? Yes, they're expensive, but actually we absolutely should be making sure that everybody gets a warm
- 11:12
warm home to live in. Um and as an advocate of the Warm Homes Plan um and as anarchitect trying to do that.I would absolutely agree that everybody deserves a warm, safe, comfortable
- 11:12
That is completely the reverse of whatI'm saying what I'm saying is that the developer provided social housing lacks those things and therefore it
- 11:12
the social housing provider that retrospectively has to fit them in order to make sure that they are delivery on the
- 11:13
members of the 20agreement, and that is a real problem. The fact that local that developers are still putting in gas
- 11:13
the honourable lady that we do need to make sure that our social housing is fit for the future.
- 11:13
We do need to make sure that our social housing is fitthe future and getting the developer to build it on behalf of the social housing provider is probably not the best way of doing it.So, if we can give the social housing providers the capital to commission the homes that their communities actually need, we would also
- 11:13
able to help diversify who actually delivers housing in this country, and weneeds, the councils, the housing associations, the community land trusts, small builders and
- 11:13
all to play their part, rather than
- 11:13
model of delivery.
- 11:13
so heavily on a small number of large
- 11:13
And that's why I also welcome the provisions in this Bull strengthening the role of community land trusts, parish and town councils and neighbourhood planning.
- 11:14
People are much more likely to support development when it iscommunity-led, the homes are genuinely affordable, the families locally can access them. and when much needed infrastructure as the hon. Member
- 11:14
mentioned earlier, is with them, thereby enhancing the towns and villages
- 11:14
It is one of the foundations of sustainable growth, and this bill begins to reconnectthat land planning and community delivery. So I really hope that the government will supportif not the Bull in its state, but continue to work with the hon. Member forand I congratulate my hon. Friend for bringing this to the House. Thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker.
- 11:14
Speaker, I want to congratulate the hon. Member for St Ives for his laudable
- 11:14
that we are experiencing. And also many of the measures are unnecessary. I hope I haven't
- 11:15
of the measures are unnecessary. I hope I haven't offended the honourable member. I thought I was quite nice.
- 11:15
unnecessary. I hope I haven't offended the honourable Member. I thought I was quite nice. But it's unnecessary when you have a council dedicated to building communities and not just housing. In fact, there are too many councils led by the parties opposite who, quite frankly, are blocking councils and NIMBYs. Milton Keynes is 60 next...
- 11:15
are blocking councils and nimbys. Milton Keynes is 60 next year, which is very exciting for me and the MPs there, but it's also an example of what can be done when you have
- 11:15
that is committed to making sure it grows by building communities. In fact, everyone who's chosen to live in Milton Keynes is a pioneer that is a part of building the city that we are still creating.
- 11:15
that we are still creating.
- 11:16
I am supporting this Bill today.
- 11:16
the schools and the GP surgeries before the
- 11:16
And this is paid for by developers.
- 11:16
afterwards. We're also building the infrastructure first. We're extending the grid roads and our famous roundabouts and our redways, which means that bicycles and people don't have to interact with the roads. And those are set out...
- 11:16
the infrastructure to ensure that these communities where you have places to play and
- 11:16
pray, places to gather, as well as a mix housing including social, affordable,
- 11:16
an up-to-date planHaving a strategy that takes you out to 2050 allows you
- 11:17
put in place the things that you need. And we're also building culture. We have over a hundred languages spoken uh in Milton Keynes, and each and every one of those communities are celebrated.We respect that diversity increases our innovation, increases our ability to build this new city of Milton Keynes, and it's no surprise to any of us.
- 11:17
I'm happy to take an intervention.
- 11:17
long list, but I'd also like to shame shame, but I'd also like to thank her for talking about the
- 11:17
I think... I'm sorry that...
- 11:18
I thinkI'm sorry that Portsmouth wasn't shortlisted. I don't know what the bid was, but I'm sure it was a fantastic one and I'm sure there'll be opportunitiesin the future for Portsmouth to be City of Culture, and I want to recognize people like the member's father who were a part of
- 11:18
I am very grateful to the Honourable Lady for giving way.
- 11:18
I thank my honourable friend for giving way.
- 11:18
I have to hand it to Gavineway, she's painting a utopian picture of Milton Keynes. She's such a strong
- 11:19
for Milton Keynes Central as a city and actually for municipal planning across the board. Can she, on the anniversary of Milton Keynes's birth, she looks well for 60, by the
- 11:19
on the anniversary of Melton Keynes, of Melton Keynes's creation, perhaps she could
- 11:19
Under which government
- 11:19
Milton Keynes is the epitome of a Labour government's dream, and not just in the fact that it's a city built on opportunity, a city built on bringing people together, on building communities and not just housing, but also houses one of
- 11:19
I thank my hon. Friend for uh for his intervention. I will notTake the bait on
- 11:20
Labour government
- 11:20
Open University which shares that every single person
- 11:20
I thank the honourable member for giving way. It's great to hear about Milton Keynes building infrastructure and having dedicated cycle lanes. So much easier in a new town when you can do that urban planning and, you know, we are absolutely in favour of that. You, you, the honourable lady talks about how important it is for local areas to build. Now, South Hams, which I represent, has, has, has built its required number of houses...
- 11:20
give way to the honourable lady.
- 11:20
number of houses year after year after year after year under Liberal Democrat leadership, but because of inward migration...
- 11:20
party leadershipBut because of inward migration, because of second homes, we have over 4,000 second homes in the South Hams, one of the highest, the fourth highest concentration in the entire country. The Devon Housing Commission says that inward migration
- 11:21
is a massive problem. This is why my hon. Friend has put forward
- 11:21
a bill which helps us curb the second home issue. It may not be a problem in Milton Keynes, but it is one of the
- 11:21
killer issues that we are dealing with in certain parts of the country, and that is why building and building and building
- 11:21
is not the solution when you have massive inward migration of people wanting to retire to a beautiful part of the country.
- 11:21
In fact, ours is a little bit different. Everything in Milton Keynes is a little bit different.
- 11:21
I thank the hon. Lady for her intervention and I was just coming onto the speech to explain how how second homes are an issue in Milton Keynes actually.
- 11:21
New homes are marketed in the Middle East because of our prime location being able to accessLondon, Oxford, Cambridge, Birmingham and fast trains to Manchester and Liverpool. only occupied in the summer.
- 11:22
and they remain empty the rest of the year. And despite our doubling of the council tax for those homes, this remains an issue, and I'd like to
- 11:22
we can be doing to tackle this so these new homes are going to families. There are other issues...
- 11:22
actually are even more pressing in Milton Keynes that would help fix the housing crisis that the Government could help on, and the Minister won't be surprised by me raising some of these issues, but I would appreciate if he could respond to some of them in his response, because we're getting into the same issue. First and foremost, rough sleeping used to be the highest in Milton Keynes ever. Now, I was able as deputy leader of the council to bring that down to some of the lowest, and I'm really pleased...
- 11:22
and I'm really pleased that the approach that we've taken in Milton Keynes is now the national approach. We have done no second night out in Milton Keynes for over three years now, and it has significantly led to a decrease in those sleeping rough. But unfortunately, there are still issues that need to be resolved.
- 11:23
Milton Keynes for over three years now and it has significantly led to a decrease in those sleeping rough. But unfortunately, there are still issues that need to be resolved to really make our dream of ending rough sleeping resolved. Some of those taken up by the Prime Minister himself when he's committed that further funding beyond this Christmas and will allow some proper infrastructure around supported housing to be built right across the country. But we do have to talk about how the LHA doesn't respond to local rents. And that is significantly important when you're in a city like Milton Keynes where private rents are about the same amount as many areas of London. We also need to talk about local councils building council housing again. And the government has rightly done quite a bit to support registered providers, but it doesn't deal with the HRA debt, nor does it deal with the fact that many local councils have not been able to access the £39 billion in Homes England funding. So how are we ensuring that those council homes are being built?
- 11:24
that those council homes are being built by councils and looking at the impact of right to buy and the wall that was put up by the Thatcher government between the general fund of councils and the HRA budgets, which makes no sense when temporary accommodation comes out of the general fund and council homes come out of the HRA. The other big issues that we need to solve in terms of the supply...
- 11:24
that we need to solve in terms of this housing crisis is the service charges for leaseholders. And I really welcome the Minister in particular, his efforts to deal with this issue because not only is it
- 11:24
Is it pricing people out of purchasing? It is also
- 11:24
trapping people in those homes who can no longer sell them because of the high service charges and therefore
- 11:24
in those homes who can no longer sell them because of the high service charges and therefore they are building up debt. And also the service charges for fleecehold. Now this is an issue when we are building new houses, new estates, more and more we are seeing fleecehold used to continue to gain cash from the residents instead of handing over the roads and the parks to the local council. And the Minister will be aware of how much this impacts Milton Keynes and how much this is important for my residents. And I hope that he will be able to talk about some of the work and the thinking he is doing in it. So while the Member for St Ives, who is now back in his place...
- 11:25
in it. So while the Member for St Ives who is now back in his place—he just did a tour—is absolutely identifying some real issues, I think we can't look at these things in isolation. I think
- 11:25
at these things in isolation. I think this really is a sticking plaster to a housing crisis where we do need an overarching plan, and we do need councils to be using the powers they currently have.
- 11:25
using the powers they currently have and staying up to date with their five-year land supply with their local plans. So the planning
- 11:26
aren't coming in and forcing them on them, because the power stays local when the local behaves properly. And that is whatneed to get across to councils that still have not put it in place. And those councils, and Milton Keynes is surrounded by many of them, who refuse to buildor only build on the borders of Milton Keynes, are not taking this seriously. And
- 11:26
have councils from all the parties opposite who quite frankly are not looking at this strategically and building the continued infrastructure that everyonemight like roundabouts, but I don't like
- 11:26
Thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker.
- 11:26
Thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker.
- 11:26
Thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker. In putting in to speak in this debate, I'm primarily wanting to talk about the first four clauses about community-led homes. Second homes...
- 11:27
second homes. Second homes as an issue do exist in Mid Sussex, of course they do, but is nowhere near the scale of the challenge that colleaguesin more tourist frequented parts of the country have challenges as we've heard in the south west.
- 11:27
Cumbria and so on. And when I think about my constituency of Mid Sussex, I think about the district as a whole, where there are about
- 11:27
well aware that compared to other parts of the country, those are quite small numbers, but actually when you...
- 11:27
People in my community often don't realize that there are
- 11:28
a councillor and now as a member of this House.
- 11:28
I think about what that means for people's day-to-day lives. I think about the mum and her daughter who spent the first five years
- 11:28
in a rural village. And I think about the family of six who I tried and failed to help who were facing eviction about 18 months ago and unable to find anywhere suitable for rent either pri-
- 11:28
And I think about the family of six who I tried and failed to help, who were facing eviction about 18 months ago, and unable to find anywhere suitable for rent either privately or socially and critically absolutely nowhere near the school that the children attended. There are, you know, quite simply too many people inadequately or insecurely housed in my constituency, as is the case right across the country. So Mid Sussex, you know, it has a mixture of towns, of large villages and of small hamlets. It is by no means the most rural or the largest of constituencies. But for someone who's got an established network of family...
- 11:29
an established network of family and friends around them in one area, in that village, a move to accommodation
- 11:29
around them in one area, in that village, a move to accommodation at the other end of the district is devastating. It strains family ties, it breaks friendships and support networks. It makes it next to impossible for people to stay in work or for the children to remain in a school where they are settled.
- 11:29
a school where they are settled and happy. And especially for those families who don't have access to a car or maybe two cars in a rural area with no buses, it is absolutely awful when some
- 11:29
it is absolutely awful when somebody cannot find a decent home. And it's for these reasons that I think
- 11:29
And it's for these reasons that I think we should be doing everything we can to be enabling people to stay in the place they call home. Community matters, villages
- 11:29
place they call home. Community matters, villages matter, being near your family and friends matters. And this Bill goes with the grain of what communities are already trying to do. In our area, we are lucky to have a network of town and parish councils, and those councillors on the parishes in particular are unpaid volunteers.
- 11:30
particular are unpaid volunteers. They go above and beyond for their communities in a variety of ways. Over the years, I've seen how they've tried, with mixed success, to secure assets of community value for their communities. And a few years back when I first moved to Mid Sussex back in 2012, it was the time of the neighbourhood plan. And I saw my parish council and then subsequently other parishes do everything they
- 11:30
and then subsequently other parishes do everything they could in good faith to meet the requirements for neighbourhood plans.
- 11:30
planning. Only to be told a few years later that the need for local plans trumped the neighbourhood plan they believed
- 11:30
provided for the housing their community needed and that community felt able to support.As parish councillors acting on a voluntary basis were acting in good faith.And in the last week or so we've had the latest examination of the Mid Sussex District Plan.
- 11:31
district plan. And again those volunteers have worked tirelessly to try and represent the interests of their communities. Now,
- 11:31
volunteers have worked tirelessly to try and represent the interests of their communities. Now, Mid Sussex, which is Lib Dem-led, although we don't have a majority on the council, and prior to that when the Conservatives ran it, has actually done what's been asked of it by successive governments in terms of delivering housing at scale.
- 11:31
delivering housing at scale, generally over a thousand homes a year, 30% of them for affordable and social housing.
- 11:31
homes a year, 30% of them for affordable and social housing. We've not, as a council,
- 11:31
Shied away from building those homes required of it.
- 11:31
That's evidence by the fact that Mr
- 11:31
Sussex across Sussex across the whole of the Sussex area has got the highest rate of population growth.
- 11:31
And it looks, following last week's examination, if that were to go ahead, that actually another 24,000 homes are going to be allocated, despite
- 11:32
adequate water supply, although currently Ardingly reservoir has below 20% water in it and the constituency relies on Ardingly
- 11:32
it and the constituency relies on Ardingly for its water. And when I talk to residents, they will they will sort of be in disbelief that another 24,000 homes can be provided for when there's been an
- 11:32
I do thank her for giving way. I
- 11:32
So the last time I had Prime Minister's Questions
- 11:32
do thank her for giving way.
- 11:33
Last time I had a PMQ the question was about water companies being statutory consultees on planning applications. I think there's a bigger challenge in that water companies aren't actually engaging properly in the
- 11:33
and maybe that's something I think I would be really appreciative of the minister looking into because in my estimation the housing sector works on five-year
- 11:33
timescales
- 11:33
land supply, housing land supply being in place, but actually Defra
- 11:33
water industry works on 20-year timescales and those two are in gross mismatch, which means that there's constant pressure for more and more housing, but the wateris in no way keeping up with it.
- 11:33
So against all of that backdrop, the hon. Member for St Ives's Bull would put in place provisions to allow a real path forward. communities who want to make provision for the homes that their own residents need. That is
- 11:33
housing local people affordably in the place they already call home.
- 11:34
would be made possible by the proposals for this bill, and I don't see that as an either-or with the current planning framework or the reforms this government is bringing
- 11:34
those volunteers on parish councils and on
- 11:34
on town councils want to do. They want to do what's right for their communities. So I fully support...
- 11:34
It's something that those volunteers on parish councils and on town councils want to do. They want to do what's right for their communities. So I fully support my Honourable Friend's proposals. The purpose of the Bill is clear and simple. It strengthens the ability of communities to meet unmet local housing need through parish and town councils, community land trusts and other community-led organisations. And I'll just close by saying this. In my...
- 11:34
In my time in this House.
- 11:34
And I'll just close by saying this.
- 11:34
about the coalition, I have observed that it's because they're on the wrong side of the argument and it's...
- 11:35
wrong side of the argument and it's the only argument they think they've got left. I think that the
- 11:35
I think that these are good proposals that the country would benefit from adopting, and I ask
- 11:35
Adam Thompson.
- 11:35
again
- 11:35
Firstly, Madam Deputy Speaker, can I thank the hon. Member for
- 11:35
and my stepmother and their cats
- 11:35
5,000 people locked, of whom more than 2,000 of those 5,000 are children.
- 11:36
We've got too many families
- 11:36
is distant at best.
- 11:36
right to talk about how our politics has treated housing purely as a commodity to be bought and sold.
- 11:36
that housing is an essential part
- 11:36
of life and important in our way of living, has been a major contributor to the housing crisis that we face today, and I
- 11:36
Thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker. I congratulate the Honourable Member for Harrow East on bringing forward this Bill. It's a very important subject and I'm very pleased to be able to contribute to it. I'm also very pleased to follow the Honourable Member for Erewash, who made a very thoughtful and helpful contribution to this debate.
- 11:37
development in our communities. Work is also under way to strengthen protections against second home owners abusing rates relief.
- 11:37
in our communities. Work is also
- 11:37
as to where we've done some good work in this area. So recently, for
- 11:37
properties. This policy is already
- 11:37
waiting for the market to catch up to their expectations, are being sold at a more reasonable price and avoiding the double council tax. Landlords that were previously happy to sit on empty properties that they could use as collateral are now being forced into action, which I just think is fantastic work. As a result
- 11:38
live in them, and, yeah, that's exactly what this Labour Government is about at the end of the day. Further, Madam Deputy Speaker, the money that is being raised from taxing empty homes is being used then to do other great work locally in the council area. The Erewash Labour Borough Council has frozen council tax...
- 11:38
council tax this year because of the money that they successfully raised. They've also introduced free parking on Saturdays, great new measures to help tackle the cost of living generally and to back our town centres as local economic hubs. These are simple powers and they're available to district councils across the country right now. They're both effective and capable of delivering many of the aims set out by the honourable gentleman in today's...
- 11:38
I'm grateful to my colleague making a really important speech about empty homes, and we all have long-term empty homes in our constituencies that we want brought back into use. But isn't there a reality that actually there are far too few empty homes generally across the country, and that we have 1% of homes, of houses in the country that are empty compared to the number of
- 11:39
again for for that intervention. Madam Deputy Speaker, I'd like to turn next to the
- 11:39
to the creation of local plans as well. Local plans already allow communities and councils to determine
- 11:39
to determine where development should take place, what infrastructure should accompany that development, and the mix of home types
- 11:39
Place, what infrastructure should accompany that development and the mix of the home types that we need to meet local demand. They're built on assessmentsof local housing need, and they're subject to consultation with residents, businesses and community organisations. I
- 11:39
Madam Deputy Speaker, because in Arrowe Park my colleagues on the council are currently going through the process of starting a newcouncil local plan. This week, in fact, Harrow Borough Council is publishing its first draft for consultation
- 11:40
get the views of local residents on what they want to see in their communities—indeed, in my community. For the first time, the council will be launching a brownfield land request, asking residents to identify brownfield sites
- 11:40
policy and I think the
- 11:40
and gives everyone the opportunity to chip in. And Madam Deputy Speaker, I wanted to come in here to put something on the record. hon. Friend the Member for
- 11:40
I am very grateful to the Honourable Gentleman for giving way. He is making a very powerful speech and I am listening to it very carefully.
- 11:40
Keen Central recently talked about
- 11:41
great location and indeed at one point I looked at maybe even buying a house there myself. but what I've discovered since the completion of that estate, knocking doors in the area, many colleagues will have shared this experience, is talking to residents, they talk about this
- 11:41
what I consider almost kind of a privatized council tax in many ways where residents are being forced to pay this annual fee for upkeep of space
- 11:41
on the estate, whether it's the roads them selves, which haven't yet been adopted by the
- 11:41
in good condition or or indeed in this case the creation of a local play park whichwas actually never opened. It was built in flood land,
- 11:41
and
- 11:41
point. It was just dreadful, and yet the residents are being forced to pay for this on an ongoing basis. And I think, you know,
- 11:41
pleased to hear from the
- 11:42
towards tackling this kind of fleecing
- 11:42
I know he's going to be doing to implement changes to to address these issues. So I I was very grateful to hear from my honourable Friend that she raised that issue because I I was really keen to get that on the on the record. And what I do want to say, Madam Deputy Speaker, is local councillors Mark Alfrey and Kate Fennelly are doing really fantastic work with the residents in doing everything they can to get as much of that land adopted by local councils so that we can take
- 11:42
councils so that we can take
- 11:42
I thank him for taking this intervention. I also thank him for raising the issue of jobs and around our young people and particularly I've worked really closely with the construction industry sector and I believe that our government are doing many, many things to help support that industry right from bringing vocational subjects at 14, but also when the Chancellor announced self-employed men for paternity leave, it means that we can able to say to our young...
- 11:43
I thank my honourable friend for that fantastic intervention...
- 11:43
for self-employed tradespeople is huge. Mann of my closest friends that I grew up with are tradespeople. Lots have got young kids.
- 11:44
more on the way and I know they're all over the moon about this because it means they've got that opportunity to spend time closely with their children.
- 11:44
previously. So I thank her again for that wonderful intervention. Madam Deputy Speaker, there's also a plan in Erewash...
- 11:44
I thank her again for that wonderful intervention. Madam Deputy Speaker, there's also a plan in Error Wash to
- 11:44
our town centres into mixed-use spaces, breathing new life into our high streets, as has been done to great success in places like Bristol and parts ofChester. Again, I think the local implementation of that really progressive national Labour policy. I'm very proud of the work that my colleagues on Harrow Borough Council are doingto begin building a local plan that's
- 11:44
taking people along with us is the most important about important way of delivering good policy. This work, Madam Deputy Speaker,
- 11:45
centres and creating space for employment, demonstrates the powers that local councils already possess. And, like the powers they're using over empty second properties, they meet many of the goals set out in the honourable gentleman's bill.
- 11:45
legislation. But of course— Will the honourable gentleman give way? Yes, I'll gladly give way to my honourable friend.
- 11:45
to my hon. Friend and it's great to hear about the good work that his council is doing with their local plan. I have two local planning authorities. I have Labour-run Peterborough and I have Lib Dem-run Huntingdon
- 11:45
In Labour-run Peterborough, of the new affordable housing requirements in the emerging local plan, 30% affordable housing, of which 30% needs to be at social rent, would he join me in calling on Huntingdonshire
- 11:45
similar because right now their affordable housing requirements don't actually set aside anything for social rent.I thank my hon. Friend for his intervention. I don't know his locale particularly well, but I think it's really important that he's put that on the record.I'm glad to hear him do so. Of course, Madam Deputy Speaker, today I'm not advocating for the status quo. I want to make that very clear. Change isThe good news is that change is coming. This government has committed to the largest increase in social and affordable housing
- 11:46
largest increase in social and affordable housing in a generation. It's launched a 10-year £39 billion homes programme providing...
- 11:46
councils and housing association with the funding that they need to bring forward new developments. I just think this is one
- 11:46
Madam Deputy Speaker, at least 60% of the homes delivered through the homes programme will be for social rent, ensuring thatis targeted towards those families currently trapped on waiting lists and in temporary accommodation. Indeed, I know
- 11:46
social homes remain available for future generations. That bill will increase the qualifying period for Right to Buy, reduce discounts and exempt newly built social homes for the schemefor 35 years. Finally, Madam Deputy Speaker, I return to my constituents, many of whom are stuck on social housing waiting lists. Some
- 11:47
temporary accommodation, while many others, especially young people, remain priced out of home
- 11:47
building offers the clearest route to delivering the change that our constituents deserve.
- 11:47
bringing it forward someone who
- 11:47
be here to speak in support of this bill, and I congratulate my hon. Friend the Member for St Ives
- 11:47
Caroline Voaden.
- 11:47
has deep expertise in this area and who has
- 11:47
many, many years dealing with the tragedy that is homelessness in Cornwall. Now, my constituency in South Devon, just up
- 11:47
just up the road from Cornwall, is one of the—one of the most beautiful parts of the country. I would argue possibly more beautiful than Cornwall, but we won't get into that. With a stunning coastline, rolling...
- 11:48
I would argue possibly more beautiful than Cornwall, but we won't get into that. With a stunning coastline, rolling farmland and villages look like they belong on a postcard. But a postcard is exactly what some of them are in danger of becoming, because behind the beautiful views lies a housing crisis that is literally hollowing out our communities. In 1997, the average home in Devon cost about £60,000. Today it costs around £300,000, the average cost of a home, and wages have nowhere near kept up. In the South Hams, the gap...
- 11:48
up. In the South Hams, the gap between house prices and local earnings has widened by 159% since 1997.
- 11:48
costs more than 13 times what a local person
- 11:48
in a year
- 11:48
Yet affordable homes make up just 9% of Devon's housing stock, half the national average. Devon also faces pressures that mostparts of the country do not, or many other parts of the country do not. Second homes, holiday
- 11:49
who could blame anyone for wanting to retire to Devon? But the effect is that local
- 11:49
end up bidding against buyers who have decades of equity behind them. Devon already has an average age of 50, and it is local young people and key workers who are left with nowhere to go. It is becoming impossible to recruit for lower-paid jobs, seriously needed community jobs like teachers and nurses and healthcare workers,
- 11:49
young people and key workers who are left with nowhere to go. It is becoming impossible to recruit for lower-paid jobs, seriously needed community jobs like teachers and nurses and healthcare workers, because there is literally nowhere that they can afford to live. None of this is driven by the politics of envy. It is about basic social justice, and about whether the people who keep our communities running can afford to live in them. This Bill does two things, and both of them are absolutely vital to South Devon. First, it extends the community right to buy, so that parish and town councils, community land trusts and other community-led organisations can designate redundant buildings and land on the edge of a community. They would have first refusal for an option period of up to five years to use that land for genuinely affordable homes, held in perpetuity for local people. It builds on the provisions already in the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Act, and it gives communities the tools to overcome ransom strips and access problems, and to use compulsory purchase powers where needed. The answer to the housing crisis is something I have said many times in this House, and I will keep saying: small sites on the edge of every village and rural exception sites. Every village needs
- 11:50
exception sites. Every village needs a few new homes to survive, not 50 or 100 or 200-plus identikit houses
- 11:50
houses plonked on a field at the on the side of a town 30, 40, 50 miles away, but 10, 12, 20 houses in the right place for the people who need them. I recently met Paula...
- 11:51
cares about every village needs. She walks the dogs. When someone comes out of hospital, she goes to their home and brings them food.She looks after homes that are second homes. She does a bit of cleaning. She does all those thingsin the village that, you know, everybody could do with an extra pair of helping hands at some point or another. Paula's landlord is trying to evict her.And there is literally nowhere else that she will be able to live in that village, in or near that village. So not only does Paul lose her home,she loses her livelihood
- 11:51
loses her income, she's forced to move away 10, 20 miles to find a hen's teeth social or affordablesomewhere else in Devon. She will lose her entire network, her social network and her livelihood.
- 11:52
Because there are no social or affordable homes in her village.
- 11:52
We need homes that let young people who grew up in these communities stay there if they want to. We don't want all young people to have to leave Devon becausethere's nowhere for them to live. We need homes that let older residents
- 11:52
that keep the schools open and the bus running. Yet it is not happening.
- 11:52
I met a local housing developer recently and he told me that a small site takes just as much preparation, red tape and admin to reach the point where spades go in the ground as a large
- 11:52
is the same, but the return is obviously a fraction of the cost. So for many developers it simply...
- 11:52
The return is obviously a fraction of the cost, so for many developers it's simply not worth building a few homes on the edge of a village. It's why itdoesn't happen. Instead, they choose to build the huge sites on the edge of towns miles away from where homes are needed, and this is where I takewith the let's build loads of homes policy, let's build a million and a half homes. is being built at scale in the
- 11:53
Welcome, a community land trust was ready to deliver homes which would have met virtually the entire social housing need.
- 11:53
I think it was 18 18 households on the list.
- 11:53
After years, years and years of effort and commitment from some incredibly committed local volunteers.The Community Land Trust has now been stopped in its tracks because, in the end, right at the eleventh hour, the landlord decided that he didn't want
- 11:53
staying.
- 11:53
could have changed that and it could have led to homes for local families who literally have no other possibility of
- 11:54
And then there is Clay Park in Dartington, 39 energy-efficient homes, all for social rent, for people with local connections. It's exactly what rural areas need, but it took 16
- 11:54
is Clay Park in Dartington, 39
- 11:54
years to get from the Firstmeeting to building works starting last
- 11:54
That's the reality of trying to build differently. Community groups give up, they're worn down by the red tape.
- 11:54
Time it takes to put a spade in the ground.
- 11:54
people who actually need the homes have to move away or buy elsewhere because they cannot wait any longer. And villages cave in and they let a developer puthomes on a field and as my hon. Friend said earlier, that Those affordable homes end up becoming market value homes because the permissions are changed.
- 11:54
people cannot get a more imaginative proposal through the hoops. This has to change. We have to make it easier to build differently. And this Bill does exactly that. I cannot understand why Members opposite are so adamant that they want to oppose this. No, it's not going to fix the housing problem in the UK. No, it's not radical enough. We all know we need radical solutions. But it changes a little part of the problem which is absolutely vital in communities like ours. The second thing this Bill does is give
- 11:55
give communities the power to limit the number of second homes and holiday lets in their area if they want to. A new use class, C5, would mean that converting a permanently occupied home to a second...
- 11:55
second home or holiday let would require planning permission. Local plans and neighbourhood plans could set limits on the proportion of such homes. And the power would only be available to those places that chose to use it. It would not necessarily need to be used if you live in a place where there are not
- 11:55
used if you live in a place where there are there isn't a second home.
- 11:55
It would be used in places where there is a tipping point at which the loss of more permanent residents threatens the very
- 11:55
I will give way.
- 11:56
I note from the bill that there is a mechanism.
- 11:56
disposal the C5 use comes to an end, but C6 doesn't. Could I just clarify why C6 was excluded?
- 11:56
I believe the honourable Member is correct. Now, look at what this means for South Devon. In Hope Cove, well over half of the homes in Hope Cove are se-
- 11:56
spoke to grew up there and moved away as a young adult. She came back to raise her own family, but she ended up leaving again because there were literally no children left in the village for her kids to play with. She was broken-hearted that her children wouldn't have the same experience that she had had growing up by the sea. And literally not far away in Kingswear, the primary school has closed
- 11:56
by the sea. And literally not far away in Kingswear, the primary school has closed. There aren't enough families left to make it viable. have over 4,000 second homes in the South Hams, which is more than the number of social homes in the whole district, one of the highest concentrations in England.
- 11:57
1,600 on a housing waiting list. Imagine if some of those second homes could go back into the residential market. All across South Devon, homes that once housed local families, nurses, teachers, fishing families have been converted into tourist accommodation and the private rented sector has shrunk as a result. I'm going to make some progress.
- 11:57
When a social rented home does come up, the competition is extraordinary. 119It's the one home in Marlborough, 113 in Sulham and 190 bids forhouse in Brixham.
- 11:57
fringe ideas. The Devon Housing Commission recommended both of them: more social and affordable homes through rural exception sites, and tighter controls on second homes and holiday lets. The Devon and Torbay Combined County Authority has built...
- 11:57
the government to take this bill seriously, and I have to say I am deeply disappointed that the government has chosen not to back it today.
- 11:58
Maybe it's just the politics of it being a private member's bill from someone on the opposite benches, or maybe it's because they really don't understand what's going on in these large dispersed ruralcommunities, but whatever the reason, I think it's really poor that they can't get behind a bill from someone who has the years of experience of my hon. Friendthe Member for St Ives, dealing with
- 11:58
If anyone is really interested in understanding what it looks like down there, I cannot recommendhighly enough reading Homesick by Katrina Davies A
- 11:58
heart-wrenching book about the housing crisis in Cornwall and what it really means. I want to see the Government back a stronger community right to buy, so that a community land trust like the one in Salcombe actually has a realistic chance of finding the space they need to transform people's lives. Everybody needs a home.
- 11:59
will give communities in places like Hope Cove, Salcombe and Kingswear the power to protect homes for permanent residents, and I hope it will look hard at the economics of small sites so that building 10 homes in a village is not 10 times less attractive than building 100 homes on the edge of a town.
- 11:59
10 times less attractive than building 100 far away. Without homes for local people, my schools will keep closing, the shops and pubs will shut their doors, and the buses will stop running—if we had buses; we don't actually have enough buses in the first place, that's another matter. But it's already happening across South Devon.
- 11:59
But it's already happening across South Devon. My hon. Friend has brought forward a bill that gives communities the power to stop this fromSo I implore the Government to listen and to give our towns and villages the chance they need to stay alive.
- 11:59
because many years ago, before Brexit, before coalition governments, before I had long before I had any grey hair
- 12:00
his office. And I know he is a man who is very committed to doing his best to tackle
- 12:00
tackle the housing crisis, and I have huge admiration for him. I want to talk about the macro challenge of the housing crisis because I think that is the real issue that faces us today. But I do want to start by addressing one of the points that he has made, the member for St Ives, about his ambition of having affordable housing secured in perpetuity. And I just want to reflect on the reforms that this Labour government has made to right to buy, because I think they are so important. We are making changes that mean that any new social home that is built will have a 35-year exemption
- 12:00
a 35-year exemption whereby right to buy cannot be exercised, and the discounts available to people who are seeking...
- 12:00
counts available to people who are seeking rights to buy have been significantly reduced. Increases
- 12:01
reversing a decision made in 2012 under the coalition
- 12:01
for Mid Sussex, but I am going to start with how we got to this problem and to talk a little bit about the collapse in
- 12:01
going to start with how we got to this problem and to talk a little bit about the collapse in social housing that happened under the coalition government. This is not party point scoring, these are facts. In the last year of the last Labour government, 2010-2011 for completions, the number of social homes that were completed was 39,000. That's a combination of council homes, housing association homes, homes for social rent. In the last year of the coalition government, 2015-2016, the number completed was 6,500. A collapse in social housing that occurred...
- 12:02
the number completed was 6,500. A collapse in social housing that occurred when her party was in government. And I do understand that many of the Members opposite played no part in that Government, but we also have to recognise in this place that the leader of their party sat around the Cabinet table at that time. It wasn't just the coalition Government, this continued on through the Conservative majority Governments that followed. By the time we get to 2021, the net loss of social homes in this country, comparing 2012 to 2021, was 280,000. So we weren't just as a society failing to build social homes, we were losing them.
- 12:02
we were losing them year on year. So that's why we have a national crisis and that's why this
- 12:02
is debated so frequently and so intensely in this House of Commons and that it's right that it is.
- 12:02
Absolutely. I thank him for that intervention, and the picture he paints nationally is very stark in my city. We had 27,000 council houses at its peak.
- 12:03
in operation, and that means that the 3,000 people on the waiting list would have had somewhere to live had we rebuilt those in that time.
- 12:03
And that was a loss. We had a loss of 11,000. We have less than 16,000.
- 12:03
And I know that councils up and down the country have been battling against this, but
- 12:03
And indeed I oppose the government and indeed a lot of our colleagues did our best to try and
- 12:03
the national choices that have been made that have put us in the position that we are today. But we are
- 12:03
I agree with everything he's just said.
- 12:03
should be opposed because of the coalition years we should be punished for that by todaythe government opposing and blocking this sensible piece oflegislation, so it's purely petty party political point scoring.
- 12:04
answer that we need a national answer to the housing crisis, and I was setting the scene of why we are in the place that we are today, and I'm out to reflect what we need to do differently. what this government has already done in its first two years in office. Firstly and most importantly, aand very significant increase in government funding for social housing via the Affordable Homes Programme. A 10-year settlement of 39 billion
- 12:04
We should be doing better, shouldn't we?
- 12:04
by one and a half billion and announced just a couple of
- 12:04
Announce which is a
- 12:05
specifically for council housing. And I No, I
- 12:05
some of the colleagues opposite are in agreement, but it's also the case that this is about big macroeconomic choices.
- 12:05
this government to spend more money on housing.
- 12:05
economic choices. 80 years ago this week, the Labour government of Clement Attlee andmy hon. Friend the Minister's predecessor, Lewes Silkin, announced Stevenage as the first new town.
- 12:05
not just Stevenage, tens of thousands of homes were built, and now we have a we have a housing crisis in my town and our council
- 12:05
It's so pleased that we have a government now that is giving more funding to build council homes and
- 12:05
That's my hon. Friend and neighbour. Not agreed. well I consider him a friend, a colleague and a neighbor and it's fantastic to work together.
- 12:05
But on the economic choices, this is the central point. This investment was only possible because of Labour budgets in 2024-25 and
- 12:06
given at this Dispatch Box couple of weeks ago, and it is the case that the Liberal Democrats did not support those budgets. And we have to focus in on this
- 12:06
about land ownership, access to land, how it's not affordable. Homes England, empowered by the government, is purchasing strategic sites so that we can
- 12:06
new homes 90 128 new homes
- 12:06
have a success story from the...
- 12:07
shared ownership, a step in the right direction only possible because of national government investment and Homes England. But
- 12:07
90 for Social
- 12:07
investment and Homes England. But also, Madam Deputy Speaker, I do have an ambition to reshape the housing market. I've listened closely to colleagues speaking today representing communities all across the country. I know that it is...
- 12:07
presenting communities all across the country. I know that it is broken in many parts of England, and
- 12:07
And one of the reasons for this, in my view, is that the private rented sector has doubled in size since the year 2000. And I don't think that was a policy ambition that any political party
- 12:07
We've not been able to get enough people onto the housing ladder to have that security of home
- 12:07
And the PRS sector has swollen in between, and I believe our ambition should be to shrink the PRS.
- 12:07
through the growth of social housing, through the growth of
- 12:08
And this Government is taking on both. Firstly, and importantly, it is seeking and acting to protect private renters through the Renters (Reform) Act.
- 12:08
Rights Act. The ban on no-fault evictions, greater security of tenure, the end to bidding wars between people who are desperate just to have a roof over their head, a really landmark achievement. But as I say...
- 12:08
achievement. But as I've said, we're investing in social housing and looking to support those people who aspire to get on the housing ladder as well. And I want to conclude by reflecting on this. We have a mortgage guarantee scheme that's been underway for just over a year, which gives people the opportunity to access
- 12:08
the opportunity to access a deposit for—it's a—less than 10% of the value of their home, with the government
- 12:08
a deposit for uh it's a less than 10% of the value of their home with the government providing support to the lender and we have an exciting new scheme confirmed in the budget your first home wherebyThe government will step in so that through an equity
- 12:09
be on the housing ladder with a deposit of as little as 2.5%. That has the potential to be transformative for lots of people who are currently in the PRS sector who want a way out. And by the way, for lots of people in the PRS sector, if they are able to access a deposit...
- 12:09
on a mortgage than they currently are on their rent, and that's why this package is so important. Madam Deputy Speaker, fixing the housing crisis is about bigpolitical and economic choices. I know the hon. Member is absolutelybe sincere in wanting a better mix of housing for his community, but I believe to reallyaddress this problem, we need an ambitious national agenda. Previous governments haven't lived up to the promise
- 12:09
of a full-blown
- 12:10
housing crisis
- 12:10
I've heard Members and hon. Members across the House agree that this is a
- 12:10
critical situation that we face. The waiting lists for social housing are the longest they have been in generations. People or families are payingto half their monthly income in rent, in rents that have skyrocketed. Wages have not kept up with food, energy or housing inflation, and it is
- 12:10
seemingly impossible for first-time buyers to buy their own home. In Dursley and Dursley, housing prices have increased
- 12:10
over the last decade.
- 12:11
to take all necessary policy and meaningful actions to address the crisis. Weover the weekend where not addressing social and national crises can lead. With the protests in Spain
- 12:11
about the housing crisis, where many Spaniards find them selves priced out of the market due to rising costs and rents. The increased demand linked to tourism
- 12:11
and immigration has led to rents shooting upwards. One banner at the protest read, "We want
- 12:11
taking measures, and I welcome the 40 billion pounds and the extra one and a half billion pounds announced
- 12:12
is acting, taking measures, and I welcome the £40 billion and the extra £1.5 billion announced in the recent budget for social housing. However, obviously, to deliver that housing will take time, but the the crisis situation...
- 12:12
that housing will take time, but the the crisis situation that faces us is today, here and now. And
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And one of the bottlenecks to housebuilding before the announcement of the extra funding over the last15 to 20 years has been the local planning departments which have lacked the funding and the resources to recruit the right
- 12:12
right number of planning officers and specialists that would allow councils to process applications, to inspect builds, and to
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Madam Deputy Speaker, in Dewsbury
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in Dewsbury and Batley, the average salary, if you include part-time workers, is £14,000 a year. And for full-time
- 12:13
for full-time workers is £34,000 a year. The average house price in Didsbury is around £200,000.
- 12:13
in Dewsbury and Batley, the average salary, if you include part-time workers, is £14,000 a year, and for full-time workers is £34,000 a year. The average house price in Dewsbury is around £200,000, which is six to 14 times the average salary of residents in Dewsbury. And in Batley, the average salary, the average house price is £274,000, and this equates to between eight to 19 times the average salary of people in Batley.
- 12:13
residents in Dewsbury. And in Batley, the average salary, the average house price is £274,000, and this equates to between eight to 19 times the average salary of people in Batley. The rents across the country, nationally, rents have climbed from an average of £975 a month to over £1,400 a month. Regional averages have set...
- 12:13
Regional averages have set new records, with average rents outside London doubling in
- 12:13
a month. Regional averages have set
- 12:14
month. Regional averages have set new records, with average rents outside London doubling in areas in the north. So, Madam Deputy Speaker, I thank my Right Honourable Friend the Member for St Ives for bringing this important...
- 12:14
for bringing this important bill to this House. In my constituency of Dewsbury and Batley, as is the case across the United Kingdom,
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The housing crisis is not an abstract policy debate, it is a defining issue. While the housing pressures in West Yorkshire differ differ from
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communities like St Ives
- 12:14
where second homes are a growing problem, the fundamental issue is the same. Working families are being priced out of their communities. Young people are struggling
- 12:14
to get on the housing ladder, and local authorities can't provide affordable homes. And we must recognise in this...
- 12:14
communities. Young people are struggling to get on the housing ladder, and local authorities can't provide affordable homes. And we must recognise in this place that we are extremely privileged. We are the top 5%. Our current salary is three times the average full-time salary of people working in Dewsbury. To afford a house in Devon...
- 12:15
people working in Dewsbury. To afford a house in Devon of £300,000 is about three times our national—annual salary.
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and the mortgages, but millions of people across our country are not in
- 12:15
privileged position that we are in, and we cannot forget those are the people who we
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It is our absolute duty to make the lives
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of normal British people across our country, easy, affordable, bearable.
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our absolute duty to make the lives of normal British people across our country easy, affordable, bearable. To want a roof over one's head, over the head of one's family, is not—should not be a luxury, should not be an unattainable ambition in the sixth richest country in the world. And I thank the Government for
- 12:16
unattainable ambition in the sixth richest country in the world. And I thank the Government for the steps it's taking, but I do also support this Bill, which introduces some additional steps that will contribute towards addressing
- 12:16
contribute towards addressing the absolute
- 12:16
that faces us.
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the specific measures in this Bull Clauses 1 and 2 put power back in the hands of local communities byallowing land suitable for affordable housing to be designated an asset of community value. I'm there were
- 12:16
There was a Member who mentioned that some of these properties might be pubs or other businesses. My understanding
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be pubs or other businesses. My understanding of the Bill is that this is referring to derelict, empty, abandoned
- 12:16
Member who mentioned that some of these properties might be pubs or or other businesses. My understanding of the Bill is that this is referring to derelict, empty, abandoned properties or properties that have just been purchased for the appreciation as an investment, and not properties that are in active use in those communities providing services.
- 12:17
active use in those communities providing services. So, empowering local planning authorities in this way will bring unused and empty sites back to life with new affordable housing, meeting the needs of people across this country and
- 12:17
Dewsbury and Batley. Secondly,I strongly welcome the powers in clause 3 enabling local authorities to acquire land using compulsory purchase orders.
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of a community representative such as a parish council or charity, often sites it
- 12:17
if Clive Jones
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for social housing now exceeds 20,000. I want to pay tribute—in the last meeting I had with the ex—
- 12:18
in the authority of Kirklees, Kirklees's waiting list for social housing now exceeds 20,000. I want to pay tribute, in the last meeting I had with the chief executive and the leader, I learnt that Kirklees had managed to move people who needed social housing from emergency bed and breakfast accommodation into more sustainable and affordable accommodation. However, there are still hundreds of families that are being housed in hotels and non-permanent social housing.
- 12:18
of families that are being housed in hotels and non-permanent social settings. So this would give local authorities the power they need to step in, take action and improve opportunities for housing for their constituents, which is
- 12:18
of um second homes and
- 12:18
And although the issue of second homes and for, for, for holiday lets is not an issue that affects Dewsbury and Batley, but I do understand the concerns laid out by the Right Honourable Member for South...
- 12:19
the concerns laid out by the Right Honourable Member for St Ives and other Members across this House where it is impacting many, many towns and communities across the country. And I stand in solidarity with them.
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in solidarity with those residents with
- 12:19
afford rent or get onto the housing ladder
- 12:19
because people are buying up properties and inflated prices as investments to earn
- 12:19
on the second and third incomes, and I think priority should be given to people who just need a home to live in, not to earn a profit.From.
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Madam Deputy Speaker, in conclusion, the Oxford academic John Molbauer has spent four decades researching
- 12:19
the UK's housing system, and he calls it one of the most dysfunctional in
- 12:19
Indeed, the housing problems we face are deeply entrenched and complex, and I did
- 12:20
world. Indeed, the housing problems we face are deeply entrenched and complex. And I did agree with my honourable friend who spoke before me about the decisions made in the coalition government after the previous Labour government.
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and I did agree with my
- 12:20
Democrats. It was
- 12:20
drastic and terrible state we're in today should not just lay on the shoulders of the Liberal Democrats. It was the Tory government that introduced an ill-thought-out and mismanaged right to buy scheme where discounts were huge, but also the proceeds of the sale of council-owned properties to people on low incomes, which I do support
- 12:20
low incomes, which I do support and applaud, the proceeds were not given back to the councils to reinvest...
- 12:20
The proceeds were not given back to the councils to reinvest in replacement
- 12:21
to our nation for that idiotic policy. So, um, although housing problems we face are deeply entrenched in complexHowever, this bill offers practical, targeted tools that will work in concert
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add to the measures that this government is already taking to address some of those
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by empowering local communities to increase genuinely affordable housing stock and targeting the disruptive effect
- 12:21
homes, this Bull offers an opportunity to deliver real change for communities like Dewsbury and Batley and across this country.
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Thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker. I'm grateful for
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I call the Minister, Matthew Pennycook.
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He is a passionate advocate for more social and affordable housing in his constituency. He brings a wealth of
- 12:22
housing experience from his time away from the House, and he has campaigned tirelessly, and I recognise this,
- 12:22
this, over many years for greater control over the number of second homes and short-term lets in the wonderful...
- 12:22
I thank my Honourable Friend for her intervention. I've always found, Madam Deputy Speaker, that the Liberal...
- 12:23
Madam Deputy Speaker, that the Liberal...
- 12:23
intervention. I've always found, Madam Deputy Speaker, the Liberal Democrats operate like a sort ofchoice system around the country where individual decisions are are not taken responsibility for at a national
- 12:23
where they are not acting along the lines that they have been advocating today. But as I was saying...
- 12:23
to make a bit of progress and I'm happy to give way later. Um, as he knows from the discussions we've had over recent weeks, despite agreeing with the overarching intention of the Bill, namely to support...
- 12:23
intention of the bill, namely to support the housing needs of local people. The government unfortunately cannot support
- 12:23
affordable homes in rural and coastal communities
- 12:23
And we understand and appreciate fully that many local authorities want more tools to bear down on excessive
- 12:23
within them. Madam Deputy Speaker, as the honourable gentleman set out in opening the debate, the bill contains essentially two measures. One relating to land for affordable housing and the other concerning planning controls in relation to second homes and short-term lets. I don't obviously intend to exhaustively detail the government's position on each individual clause in the bill. Instead, I'll set out our position in respect of each of these measures, starting with
- 12:24
and we understand the intention behind it. We all want suitable land to come forward to provide affordable housing to meet identified local need. However,Extending the assets of community value regime to allow vacant, substantially unused or materiallyunderused land to be nominated because of its potential for affordable housing is not in our view a proportionate means of achieving that objective.
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We see intent to
- 12:24
The new community right to buy, enacted through our English Devolution and Community Empowerment Act, was carefully designed to balance
- 12:25
and within the assets of
- 12:25
Increase interference with property rights.
- 12:25
devalue framework could, in our
- 12:25
in an unjustifiable way. The community I will happily give way.
- 12:25
to the Minister for giving way. And just on the on the franchise point, I mean, I noticed that the Labour Party seems to franchise different approaches both in relation to
- 12:25
and streamlined in
- 12:25
Well, I would say to the honourable gentleman, who I do have a huge amount of respect for, when a bill is this...
- 12:26
flawed, and I will come into detail how it's flawed in several other respects, I think it is too much for the government to be asked to essentially completely redesign it in committee with all the capacity...
- 12:26
In due course. I was saying, Madam Deputy Speaker, that the community right to buy already provides for a 12-monthmoratorium and a right of first refusal, extending those effects across a wider class of
- 12:26
of the regime. Now, the National Planning Policy Framework already provides strong support for
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community led exception sites and the
- 12:27
is that those changes need time to embed before
- 12:27
Again, we understand the intention behind both clauses, but they seek to add further
- 12:27
in respect of the new provisions in
- 12:27
a limit of one hectare of land for every thousand people in an adjacent settlement over each
- 12:27
each five-year period, thereby aggregating land listed as an asset of community value, identified in a neighbourhood plan or
- 12:27
compulsory acquisition. Again, I understand fully why the honourable Member has included this clause in the Bill. I can...
- 12:28
the government about the effects of clauses 1 to 3, but I'm afraid it doesn't resolve our fundamental concerns about those provisions.
- 12:28
I will give way and then I can already feel the glare of Madam Deputy Speaker on me.
- 12:28
to be given an opportunity to wind up, I don't think in this debate, unless unless I'm wrong. But in relation to that that particular point, what what the Minister I think needs to
- 12:28
thousands of communities around around the country
- 12:28
irrespective of the government tools which which are all welcome in their in their
- 12:28
have a conversation with him about public land, about what more can be done in this area. As I've just said, we strengthened
- 12:28
call for land for affordable homes...
- 12:29
I'm very interested, and I've made the offer to him previously, I've made the offer to other the offer tohon. Members to know
- 12:29
parts of the country, rural exceptions sites are notmoving forward at the scale that's required. But to his particular safeguard, a national hectare-to-population formulaimposing an arbitrary constraint that
- 12:29
bear little relationship to local need or the characteristics of a particular site. requirement for population figures, land management, aggregation, record keeping and avoidance also demonstrate the
- 12:29
the model. The established planning system I am going to make a bit of progress. The established
- 12:29
Madam Deputy Speaker, is the appropriate
- 12:29
framework for assessing housing need
- 12:29
site suitability and the scale of development in light of local circumstances. The government there
- 12:29
rise to this provision. Excessive concentrations of short-term lets and
- 12:30
impact the availability and affordability of homes for local residents to buy and to rent, as well as localservices and we agree that local authorities need effective
- 12:30
to manage these impacts. How
- 12:30
We believe this clause is problematic for the following reasons. First, and I say this gently to the hon. Gentleman, the proposalis to misunderstand the effect of the use classes.
- 12:30
permissive. It provides that a change of use within the same use class is not development and therefore does not require planning permission. However, it does not provide that a change between different use classes will necessarily...
- 12:30
those uses is a material change of use requiring planning permission? Whether a particular change of use is material would still need to be
- 12:30
provide for a C5 second home use to cease automatically when a property is sold or otherwise subject to a relevant disposal. A future owner wishing to use it as a second home would need planning permission
- 12:31
use. Again, this requirement would be subject to specific carve-outs such as a transfer between spouses or civil partners.
- 12:31
automatic reversion on sale would cut across that established principle. It would create complexity for property
- 12:31
Has he—has the Minister—
- 12:31
Has he has the Minister raised this matter with those in the Welsh Assembly? Has the Minister
- 12:31
what's known as the St Ives clause in neighbourhood development
- 12:31
where permissions can only be granted for for accommodation where they are specified that they cannot be
- 12:31
occupancy. So this already exists in planning law, so I'm afraid that
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Whoever is advising him is not
- 12:32
has been done in Wales and it is being done
- 12:32
has expertise in this area, but I think it's slightly rich of him to say that the expertise available to government, including legal expertise
- 12:32
wrong on this point. The Welsh Government do have a particular approach. I've heard it mentioned several times today.
- 12:32
That doesn't need to contend with the 90 nights short-term let London limits, which creates additional
- 12:32
and short-term lets. But as I was saying, there is the clause doesn't propose that C
- 12:33
or may not be provided to residents. I'm not going to give way. Madam Deputy Speaker, I can feel your glare
- 12:33
intensely now, and I can see you wish me to make—wish me to make progress. We share the ambition
- 12:33
The report spelling out quite clearly how the use of planning to control the number of short-term holiday lets. is complicated and difficult. I view the planning system as a bit of a sledgehammer to crack a nut on these sorts of issues. Can the Minister confirm, as they consider ways of controllingthe number of holiday lets whether it is
- 12:34
I thank my honourable friend for that question. When you look...
- 12:34
point of order for that for that question. When you look at the experience of what is being done across the rest of the world, different regimes
- 12:34
Some of them use licensing alone, some of them use planning alone, some of them use planning
- 12:34
licensing. We are in reviewing what further powers local authorities might need, considering all options, and I'm
- 12:34
to the use class system must be judged by whether they would achieve that objective in practice.
- 12:35
would work. Recognising the underlying pressures, the Government has taken action, including abolishing the furnished holiday lettings tax regime.
- 12:35
taking action including abolishing the furnished holiday lettings tax regime, legislating for a
- 12:35
from evicting tenants simply to convert a home into a holiday let. Any further planning changes require careful consideration alongside those measures. And turning finally and briefly to clause 6, Madam Deputy Speaker, it's right that communities...
- 12:35
and qualifying bodies. Neighbourhood plans can already include policies relating to second homes and holiday
- 12:35
Local plans can also introduce principal residence or principal
- 12:35
policies. Indeed, subsection (4) of his Bull explicitly recognises those existing powers. The clause therelargely sits out an approach that the existing planning system already
- 12:36
enables. For that reason, we don't believe that the case for further statutory provision has been made, nor are we persuaded that prescribing
- 12:36
must take into account when preparing such policies
- 12:36
I thank all of those hon. Members who have made contributions to the debate today. There's been some great
- 12:36
hon. Friend for Harrow West, Wellin
- 12:36
We want to see more social and affordable homes come forward in rural and coastal communities. We want to empower communities to shape their
- 12:36
Milton Keynes Central. A number of issues
- 12:36
housing can make to meeting local housing needs. We simply disagree, Madam Deputy Speaker, that the measures in this bill, which is problematic in a number of respects, are the right way to achieve those objectives. Taken together, the measures proposed in the bill would add considerable prescription and complexity to the planning and land system...
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