Ministers were quizzed on Tuesday by a Commons select committee over the timetable for the Communities Plan.
Deputy prime minister John Prescott refused to be tied down to specific dates for when key elements of the plan – such as infrastructure and the number of affordable homes in the four growth areas – would be in place.

He said the timing would be more clear once development agencies and councils had liaised with each other about delivery.

He added: “The private sector won’t invest unless you have the infrastructure in place. People are more demanding now about where they want to live so we have an obligation to get the infrastructure right.”

Housing minister Lord Rooker made a surprising outburst about the classification of greenbelt land when asked about the building of more homes on such spaces.

Lord Rooker warned that a distinction must be made between areas of outstanding natural beauty and greenbelt land that was merely what he termed “rubbish”. He said that too often the two were confused in discussions about using greenbelt land for affordable housing.

Referring to a recent visit to a greenbelt site outside Cambridge, he said: “I wouldn’t take my dog out there.”

Source

Housing Today