§ Mr. Clifton-Brown:To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will make a statement on the Barker report. [R] [144197]
§ Keith Hill:The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister welcomes the report. Kate Barker and her team have done a thorough job in getting to grips with the issues of housing undersupply.
The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister believes the review complements the Communities Plan, by highlighting the need for additional housebuilding, and for a more responsive industry in high demand areas. The Barker report deepens our understanding of the constraints that must be overcome.
The report is right to emphasise that this is not just a matter of getting housing numbers up. We have to build sustainable communities, not just houses. For if we do not achieve this, we risk repeating the mistakes of the past, where residents are reluctant to see further development, and this reduces housebuilding further still.
The report says we need to deliver the socially optimal numbers, type and location of housing. That means carefully balancing different objectives and considerations—economic, social and environmental, which fits in well with the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister's overarching objectives.
744WThe Office of the Deputy Prime Minister agrees that the planning system is not perfect. Reforms are currently before parliament in the Planning Bill. These, we believe will improve planning policy and process. We look forward to hearing what recommendations are produced in the final Barker report.
Finally, we welcome the analysis of the housebuilding industry, and agree that the industry seems to be in a low output equilibrium. We reinforce Kate Barker's conclusion that the industry could and should make better use of modern methods of construction.
§ Mr. Clifton-Brown:To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what measures he will introduce to increase house building as recommended in the Barker report. [R] [144198]
§ Keith Hill:The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister welcomes the research undertaken by the Barker Review, especially the figures for the additional housing required to fulfil particular aims. The review makes clear that it is not recommending a rate of housebuilding, however, and that it is up to Government to determine what the appropriate level is. It also makes clear that the country needs a housebuilding industry that is more responsive to prices.
The Planning Bill currently before Parliament already puts in place measures that the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister believes will deliver a more responsive industry and a higher level of housebuilding. The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister also looks forward to seeing the recommendations in Kate Barker's final report in which she will present her policies. Only then will we be in a position to respond fully to any requirement for a higher level of housebuilding.