« MP of the day - Andrew Rosindell for flying the flag | Main | Baroness Morris calls for greater child protection »

Peter Bone quizzes the Government on housebuilding

Peter_boneThe Government's plans to cover the South East in concrete are a huge environmental concern. Wellingborough MP Peter Bone asked the following written question on the topic:

"Carbon Emissions: Construction

Mr. Bone: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment he has made of the environmental effects of actions required to meet the target of building three million new homes by 2020. [233728]

Mr. Iain Wright: I have been asked to reply.

The Housing Green Paper ‘Homes for the future: more affordable, more sustainable’ (published in July 2007) outlined the Government’s plans to achieve higher housing supply targets. It also set out a range of actions to address the challenge of climate change and to protect the environment. The Housing Green Paper was subject to an impact assessment, which includes a specific impact test on sustainable development, carbon assessment and other environmental assessments. This was published alongside the Housing Green Paper and its sister documents. These documents have been placed in the House Library.

It is for regional spatial strategies to determine the appropriate level of housing growth and the best location for it in their region. A sustainability appraisal, incorporating a strategic environmental assessment, is part of the process of preparing regional spatial strategies."

It is intriguing that the answer has been listed under the title "Carbon emissions". Mr Bone's question was more generic, and in fairness the minister did touch on other issues.

It is hardly the case that carbon emissions are the only cause for concern. There is, for just one example, a serious worry that there won't be enough water to go round if all these new homes are built.

Comments

You must be logged in using Intense Debate, Wordpress, Twitter or Facebook to comment.