Tories reject Lib Dem law change that would protect homebuyers against rogue developers

MP Helen Morgan urged the Government to change the law to force developers to make sure relevant infrastructure is in place before new estates are built across the country.

The North Shropshire MP and Liberal Democrat Levelling Up Spokesperson tabled an amendment which would strengthen the law to protect homebuyers from rogue developers and stop schools and surgeries from being overwhelmed by an influx of new residents.

However, the Government refused to accept the change to the Levelling Up Bill and also blocked an amendment which would make sure local referendums are held on any fracking applications.

Helen is working to support dozens of residents across North Shropshire who have been forced to fork out thousands of pounds after roads or sewers on their estates were left unfinished by dodgy developers. Her proposed law changes would prevent homebuyers from being left in a similar situation in future.

Earlier this year, Helen secured a debate on the issue in the House of Commons where she laid out in detail why the Government must act to protect housebuyers from rogue developers.

Speaking during a debate on the Levelling Up Bill in the House of Commons, Helen said: “The amendment would enable councils to require financial bonds from developers to complete the basic infrastructure—roads, street lights and drainage—that is meant to be adopted, but often seems to be left undone. North Shropshire is plagued with unfinished road developments, and the amendment would allow those financial bonds to be put in place, which would avoid such situations.

Explaining the need for infrastructure payments to be paid up front, she said: “We all recognise that the UK has a housing crisis, with shortages of social, private rented and affordable housing, leaving many people in an insecure position. One problem is that that need often conflicts with concerns that local residents have about their own stretched public services.

“Amendment 5 would help to address local concerns by ensuring that the infrastructure levy is paid upfront before the point of occupation. Councils would be able to ensure that a local community could cope with the additional people moving in before they were there taking up school places and nursery places, rather than trying to solve the problem of service provision once it is too late.”

North Shropshire has previously been targeted as a potential fracking site and Helen also called for the law to be strengthened to protect locals from drilling.

She explained: “New clause 40 would create a requirement to hold local referendums on fracking applications—to be paid for by the applicant—to protect communities from unwanted fossil fuel extraction. My constituents are unconvinced by the current moratorium given the flip-flopping this summer and the disastrous decision to give the go-ahead to a new coalmine last week.”

Helen finished her speech by addressing the “critical” need for affordable housing.

She said: “I wish to mention the critical importance of the affordability of housing. We know, as many Members have discussed, that it is worse in some parts of the country than in others. The building of executive homes in the countryside will not help us deal with the problem of affordable housing. New clause 20 also enables local authorities to require new housing to be affordable and to define affordability in their area. It would also allow them to provide additional bus services so that people did not become reliant on cars.”