BROWNFIELD FIRST APPROACH FOR NEW HOUSING

Early day motion 1770, tabled 8 March 2006 by David Drew (Labour). Signed by 111 members.

That this House welcomes the progress made on recycling brownfield land and increasing the supply of housing with house building reaching its highest level for 16 years and 72 per cent. of homes now built on brownfield sites; notes the positive role played by planning policy in housing provision, especially the sequential brownfield first approach in PPG3; and, in the light of this achievement, is concerned and perplexed by the emphasis the Government's draft planning policy on housing places on meeting market demand where it arises, rather than where capacity for development exists; further notes the lack of a clear sequential approach which ensures urban brownfield development takes priority over greenfield development and the lack of measures and resources to secure more affordable housing and encourage urban regeneration; and calls on the Government to retain a strong emphasis on the sequential brownfield first approach when it publishes its new planning policy on housing later this year.

Signatures by party: Labour 53, Conservative 34, Liberal Democrat 18, DUP 3, Independent 1, Plaid Cymru 1, Respect 1.