BROMSGROVE MP Bradley Thomas said the district’s greenbelt is under attack like never before after a measure aimed at prioritising brownfield sites was voted down in the House of Commons.
A vote on Lords Amendment 37 of the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill took place in the House of Commons on Tuesday, but failed to pass.
The amendment would have prevented a mayor or combined authority from designating greenfield land for development unless they were satisfied that no suitable brownfield land was available.
Mr Thomas, who voted for the amendment, claimed the Government has increased the constituency’s housing target by 85 per cent.
According to the latest State of Brownfield 2025 report from the Campaign to Protect Rural England, there is enough brownfield land capacity in England to support a minimum of 1.41 million new homes.
Mr Thomas said: “As the Government continues to attack our greenbelt, I voted to prioritise brownfield sites before designating greenfield land for development.
“Our greenbelt in Bromsgrove is under attack like never before, and I’m doing everything I can to protect it.
“There is enough brownfield land in England alone to build 1.41 million homes on.
“That should be the Government’s priority.
“Instead, they’re pursuing a policy to help their friends in the cities whilst punishing rural Britain.
“It doesn’t have to be this way, and I won’t stop until this Government wakes up, sees sense and reverses their 85 per cent increase in our housebuilding target, which will destroy our precious greenbelt as we know it.”
