Dr Ben Spencer, MP for Runnymede and Weybridge, today submitted his response to the Government consultation on changes to the planning system, highlighting the need for Government to balance house building targets with existing priorities of protecting significant areas of flood plain and Green Belt.
Commenting, Dr Spencer said:
The nation is in urgent need of more housing, and I welcome the Government’s consultation on planning policy and the opportunity for everyone to feed in their views on how best this can be achieved. Runnymede and Weybridge needs more quality affordable housing but faces significant constraints to development from areas at high risk of flooding and protecting our green belt.
While changes to planning policy are needed to help support our target of delivering 300,000 new homes per year, local targets should also take into account local circumstances to ensure we can protect our communities and local environment.
The consultation sought views on proposed changes to how local authority housing targets are calculated, the provision of affordable housing, and rules around permitted development. The Government is also consulting on further proposals in the Planning White Paper, ‘Planning for the Future’, which is open until 29 October.
A copy of Dr Spencer’s submission is available below.
