Alex White (Labour)

I know that two additional grounds are included in the Bill but neither of them covers the issue of unfinished estates. I will accept the Minister of State's word that the previous two are already included in the planning code. They are already grounds for refusing permission, that is, if somebody is not in compliance with a previous permission or with a condition to which the previous permission is subject. He is adding two additional grounds but they certainly do not cover the problem of unfinished estates, whatever about the existing ones. The fact that he is introducing two new grounds is neither here nor there with regard to the point I am making. The previous two might cover unfinished estates but I believe they do not. If they do, it should be spelled out and amending the Bill would be the perfect opportunity to do so.

All Members are aware of the problem of unfinished estates. It is all very well to say that if a builder does not finish an estate, people can take an action against him or her in court. The vast majority of people who buy a house in an estate are not in a position to mount court challenges or chase builders. The way to ensure such rogue builders are caught is by not giving them planning permission in the future when they do not finish estates.