POLITICAL leaders in Bromsgrove have expressed their dismay at the government’s decision to further increase the town’s mandatory housing target.
Back in July, the government published its National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) proposals which were put out for consultation.
Plans included a new housing target for Bromsgrove District Council of 704 homes annually – an extra 318 houses. However, following the publication of the revised NPPF on December 12, the government has further increased its top-down target for Bromsgrove.
Now, the town’s target will be 713 homes per year – an 84.7 per cent increase in the district’s expectations for house building.
Both Bromsgrove MP Bradley Thomas and the district council’s leader, Coun Karen May, have consistently raised concerns regarding these targets and are now sharing their displeasure at the government’s further increase.
The two political leaders responded to the government’s consultation on behalf of their constituents and feel their concerns have been ignored.
Mr Thomas’ response slammed the government for what he believes to be a failing to accurately measure local housing demand in Bromsgrove.
He also had a bone to pick with the government’s affordability ratio which shows the relationship between local house prices and jobs available in that locality.
The MP says this does not accurately reflect the reality of districts such as Bromsgrove, where many people commute into major cities where there are higher paying jobs, placing pressure on house prices and making local income figures artificially low. Both of which drive up the perceived need for housing.
Mr Thomas said: “I was elected with a clear mandate to fight against inappropriate green belt development and to protect our rural way of life.
“I’ve been consistent in my view that I will only support development in the right locations, designed to the highest standards and on brownfield land first.
“I’m dismayed that the Government has further increased its top-down housing target for Bromsgrove. In doing so they have completely ignored the views and concerns of Bromsgrove District Council.
“While as a country we do need to build more houses, for the sake of public trust in the planning system, house building must carry the consent of local people who are custodians of their communities.
“My constituents deserve to get on to the property ladder, but the Government is imposing an 84.7 per cent increase which doesn’t reflect the true housing need across Bromsgrove and the Villages.
“Sadly, the Government has also abandoned the requirement for new housing to be beautiful designed when they closed the Office for Place.
“It’s essential we incorporate good design in our planning system, ensuring new developments are reflective of their surroundings, and create safer, happier communities where people want to live, work and raise their families.
“Migration, both legal and illegal, continues to put pressure on housing and public services across the country.
“I see no urgency from this Government to reduce this pressure which further inflates housing demand across the country.
“It cannot be right that the Government is reducing housing targets for cities like London and Birmingham, where the need is most acute, and forcing constituencies like mine to build thousands of homes on green belt.
“Instead, I urge the Government to pursue intensive urban densification, so that beautiful new homes are built in the towns and cities where demand is most acute.
“I’m afraid their current approach is wrong, and I will continue to fight to protect our green belt.”
Both leaders fear the impacts of the town’s greenbelt (89 per cent of the district) as a result of forced increases in housing targets.
Coun May added: “We tried to be constructive in our response to the Government’s planning changes, but be in no doubt, this Government has ridden roughshod over the views and concerns of Bromsgrove District Council.
“When you see housing being built on our green belt in the coming years, the blame for this lies squarely at the door of this current Government.
“And where new houses are built, central government must provide us with the infrastructure we need to support more houses.”
Visit www.bromsgrovestandard.co.uk for more information.
