Maldon MP, Sir John Whittingdale, questioned the Deputy Prime Minister on local development in the House of Commons on Tuesday (July 30).

Sir John raised concerns with the development of 3000 new homes in Maldon and Heybridge and the proposed building of 3000 in Hammonds Farm, describing how local roads, health services, education services are already under "intolerable pressure."

He asked newly appointed Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner on what she proposes to do to ensure infrastructure keeps up with such large-scale development.

The Deputy Prime Minister responded to the question saying: "The honourable gentleman will know that his government was in government for 14 years and could have resolved this.

"This is part of the reason why we're consulting on the revised NPPF (National Planning Policy Framework), because we recognise that infrastructure is critical. People often reject housing proposals because they don't see sufficient infrastructure. 

"That's why we have the 'golden rules', that's why I have asked departments to look at what we can do to make sure that infrastructure is there and that's why we'll support strengthening of Section 106 to make sure that developers don't try and squeeze out of what they promised as part of that development."

Section 106 agreements, or planning obligations, are used to mitigate the impact of a new home on the local community and infrastructure. 

They are designed to make a development possible that would otherwise not be possible, by obtaining concessions and contributions from the developer.

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Recent developments in Maldon include land around Broad Street Green and developments south of Limebrook way and Wycke Hill.

The proposed Hammonds Farm development between Danbury, Little Baddow and Chelmer Village, intends to have an adoption date of 2026. If adopted the site could see 3,000 homes being built there by 2041 and a further 1,500 after that.

There will be a third round consultation in January next year before a final decision is made.