Mims Davies MP is joined on BBC South East Politics by fellow MP, Lloyd Russell-Moyle, discussing Labour's plan for new towns irrespective of locals' objections.
Mims Davies MP shares her views that whilst having adequate housing is a necessity, especially for the next generation, it is crucial to ensure the correct spaces are used. However, bulldozing through our special countryside and concrete over it and not go with the brownfield sites first is unacceptable.
This year at the Labour Party conference, Sir Keir Starmer MP announced his plans to build new towns and 1.5m homes, despite objection from locals. Stating he would "bulldoze through" the planning system in England if his party wins power.
Lloyd Russell-Moyle himself said during the interivew:
"I think there are great opportunities around Plumpton Green, great opportunities around Ringmer."
And as Mims pointed out in the interview - none of these places are in his constituency, therefore it makes sense he's for these spots.
Labour say they will run a bidding process for new towns but Keir Starmer also says he is ‘going to have to’ ignore communities on housebuilding.
Locking out local voices and plucking out parts of the countryside to drop these new towns in is not feasible. We have local plans in place for a reason and to ensure our South Downs and green spaces are protected and not bulldozed and concreted over as Labour has made clear is their plan.
The Government is already on track to meet its manifesto commitment of delivering one million homes this Parliament. We have delivered nearly 250,000 homes through the £11.5 billion Affordable Homes Programme, despite the challenges of the pandemic and wider economic climate. Our long-term plan for housing outlines how we can go further and deliver more of the homes this country needs.
We are already transforming the planning system through the Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill, which will reduce delays, cut bureaucracy and address slow build-out rates.
We are also backing the sector with an additional £37.5 million to support local authorities – including a new £24 million Planning Skills Delivery Fund to tackle backlogs, and £13.5 million as part of the long-term plan for housing that will upskill the sector with new planning super squads.
Through the Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill we are clear that local plans should be easier to produce and be given more weight in decision making, to create more certainty and foster a genuinely plan-led system.
We also set out our plans to unlock 100,000 homes via reform of defective EU, nutrient neutrality laws, which Labour opposed. We are currently considering our next steps so we can deliver homes for local communities while protecting the environment.
