Infrastructure Must Come First: Ben Maguire MP Targets Developer Loophole in New Parliament Bill

​In a challenge to traditional housing development practices, Ben Maguire, the Liberal Democrat MP for North Cornwall, is pushing forward the Development (Community Infrastructure) Bill. Frequently dubbed the "Infrastructure First" Bill, the Private Member’s Bill takes aim at long-standing developer obligations, standard Section 106 agreements, and local planning procedures to prevent housebuilders from delaying or evading local infrastructure contributions.

​The proposal tackles a persistent point of friction in regional planning: housing developments opening without the essential public services needed to support new residents. By reforming the timing of developer obligations, the bill attempts to dismantle key avenues through which housebuilders defer or escape commitments to construct essential local facilities.

​"Developers have tried to squirm out of thousands of pounds worth of vital local community infrastructure, GP surgeries, schools, dentists; just to add a few extra zeros to their millions in profits." ​— Ben Maguire MP
​Closing the Viability Loophole
​Under the current planning framework, local councils routinely secure pledges from developers via Section 106 agreements to fund or construct local upgrades in tandem with new homes. However, developers frequently exploit "viability assessments" late in the building process, arguing that unexpected financial constraints threaten project margins. As a result, pledged contributions are routinely reduced or removed entirely after housing permits have already been granted.

​The bill seeks to reshape these rules by establishing a strict, mandatory schedule for infrastructure delivery. Under the proposed bill, developers would be legally obligated to deliver essential services, such as healthcare facilities, expanded school capacity, and road improvements, before starting construction on primary residential phases.

​"Communities have been stung one too many times by this, which is why I’ve now officially presented my ‘INFRASTRUCTURE FIRST’ Bill to Parliament. This Bill aims to ensure the proper community infrastructure is put in place at housing developments BEFORE the actual homes are built." Ben Maguire MP

​By front-loading developer contributions, the bill aims to insulate local councils from the risk of developer insolvency. When housebuilders face financial distress midway through multi-phase builds, local residents are often left with completed residential units while promised community amenities remain missing.

​Alignment with Liberal Democrat Housing Strategy
​While the party supports ambitious housing delivery to tackle the ongoing affordability crisis, its platform explicitly demands an "infrastructure-first" planning framework. Liberal Democrat argue that local public buy-in for housing growth depends heavily on guaranteeing that healthcare, transport links, and public services expand alongside new developments.

The Infrastructure Firs bill, is intended to fix the system, not stall housebuilding:
​"Make no mistake: I’m all for the building of new, affordable housing to address the acute housing shortage young people and families face. But developers simply CANNOT be allowed to walk away from promised infrastructure funding, or go bust and leave developments half-built." Ben Maguire MP

​Parliamentary Hurdles Ahead
​Introduced as a Presentation Bill under Standing Order No. 57, the measure faces an uphill battle to pass into law, as Private Members' Bills rarely secure sufficient parliamentary time without official government backing. Nevertheless, legislative efforts of this nature serve as a crucial tool for MPs to highlight issues of local or national importance and pressure ministers to incorporate aspects into future government reforms e.g. stricter developer accountability measures into mainstream planning reforms.

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