answer text |
<p> </p><p><em>[Holding Reply: Monday 7 July 2014]</em></p><p> </p><p><em> </em></p><p>
</p><p>In my answers to the rt. hon. Member of 10 December 2013, <em>Official Report</em>,
Column 158W and 16 January 2014, <em>Official Report,</em> Column 611W, I outlined
the myths being propagated on land-banking and observed how these were disproved by
hard, empirical evidence from experts. I also noted the inaccurate claims being punted
around by HM Opposition, remarked how their policy proposals would actually reduce
house building; and explained the steps that the Coalition Government has taken to
help kick-start stalled sites, from development finance, to Section 106 reform, to
increasing the incentive for developers to start on site before permission expires.</p><p>
</p><p> </p><p> </p><p>The latest figures from Glenigan estimate that the number of
dwellings with planning permission that are classified as “on hold or shelved” has
steadily fallen thanks to the action we are taking. Conversely, the number of dwellings
with planning permission that are moving towards a start has steadily increased, both
due to the action we have taken to tackle stalled sites, but also due to the increase
in the number of homes being granted planning permission. Indeed, a total of 216,000
permissions were given for new homes in 2013-14.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>A rising
number of homes progressing towards a start is a positive indicator of increasing
housing construction. The Leader of the Opposition, the rt. hon. Member for Doncaster
North, on 15 January 2014, <em>Official Report</em>, Column 846, incorrectly described
them as “houses where nothing is happening”. This is incorrect description of the
Glenigan statistics and reflects a fundamental misunderstanding of rising planning
approvals. It is the ‘on hold/shelved' indicator where nothing is happening.</p><p>
</p><p> </p><p> </p><p>The table below illustrates our progress:</p><p> </p><table><thead><tr><td><p><em>Snapshot
as of</em></p></td><td><p><strong><em>On hold/shelved</em></strong></p></td><td><p><strong><em>Progressing
towards start</em></strong></p></td></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td><p>31/01/2011</p></td><td><p>79,604</p></td><td><p>113,566</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>31/07/2011</p></td><td><p>82,557</p></td><td><p>153,379</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>30/09/2011</p></td><td><p>90,331</p></td><td><p>153,543</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>31/12/2011</p></td><td><p>87,081</p></td><td><p>132,633</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>31/03/2012</p></td><td><p>81,502</p></td><td><p>136,686</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>30/06/2012</p></td><td><p>75,534</p></td><td><p>141,044</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>30/09/2012</p></td><td><p>70,495</p></td><td><p>166,105</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>31/01/2013</p></td><td><p>64,394</p></td><td><p>176,246</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>02/04/2013</p></td><td><p>61,476</p></td><td><p>184,987</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>02/06/2013</p></td><td><p>60,493</p></td><td><p>189,882</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>01/10/2013</p></td><td><p>59,249</p></td><td><p>183,650</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>01/01/2014</p></td><td><p>55,847</p></td><td><p>202,912</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>01/02/2014</p></td><td><p>54,086</p></td><td><p>194,681</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>01/03/2014</p></td><td><p>53,376</p></td><td><p>203,098</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>01/04/2014</p></td><td><p>51,284</p></td><td><p>197,288</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>01/06/2014</p></td><td><p>50,050</p></td><td><p>226,328</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p>
</p><p> </p><p> </p><p><sup>Note: dwellings on sites with 10 units or more; excludes
sites which have been sold, were due to be sold, or else information not available.</sup></p><p>
</p><p>Taken together, these two indicators show that the Government's long-term economic
plan is working and turning around the mess and recession left by the Labour Government.
Moth-balled sites are springing into action; more homes are being planned; and more
homes are being built out.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>Of course, there is more
to do – and the measures in the Infrastructure Bill on planning conditions will further
cut the time it takes for sites with planning permission to start on site. We also
have a series of schemes to increase development finance to both small and large builders,
to boost local authority capacity to unlocked stalled sites, and (as outlined in the
answer of 7 July 2014, <em>Official Report</em>, Column 117W) to support ongoing housing
starts.</p><p> </p>
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