Recommendation 32

We pressed MHCLG on the main barriers to increasing housing supply. It replied that one of the key issues is viability of sites, and that it is engaging actively with local government on the use of Section 106 money (funding that local authorities receive from developers, to pay for community and social infrastructure projects) to develop sites. It also explained that there is a need to improve planning policy and raise the percentage of the new 42 Public Accounts Committee, Oral evidence: Asylum accommodation: Home Office acquisition of former HMP Northeye, HC 361, Qq 132, 133 43 Qq 64-65; C&AG’s Report, paras 2.14, 2.19, 2.20 44 TH0031 45 TH0029 46 TH0011 18 social housing supply to which the Government commits itself. MHCLG told us that it was already taking action with regard to housing supply–for example, through setting compulsory planning targets for local authorities; its consultation on the new national planning policy framework, which it announced in July 2024; and more recent consultations on social housing and changes to the right to buy scheme.47