Member

During the passage of the Bill, we repeatedly raised the issue of using brownfield first. The Minister assured noble Lords that this would be the case. How will the Government ensure that a brownfield-first approach is followed throughout spatial development strategies? How will they ensure that mayors, particularly in areas based on a large city, do not take the easy option and focus building on greenfield rather than brownfield land? My noble friend alluded to that in North Yorkshire. The Conservatives have sought to enshrine brownfield-first into law, and the Labour Government have so far resisted. How will the Government ensure that this actually happens in practice and not just in words? It is a particular concern given recent announcements on local government reorganisation, in which there were several proposals for cities to expand into their rural hinterlands.