news story

17th January 2008

MP to Challenge Ministers Over Local Housing Numbers

Northavon MP Steve Webb will next week (22nd January) step up the campaign against over- development in South Gloucestershire by challenging ministers in a Westminster debate. The debate is on the South West 'regional spatial strategy', the document which sets out plans for the economic development of the region over the coming decades.

Last week an independent panel reviewed the plans which had been drawn up by councillors and other groups from across the region, and proposed an even bigger increase in housing numbers for South Gloucestershire than was already built into the plans. Particularly controversial was the plan to put 5,000 new houses on farmland to the North of Yate.

The panel's findings are now being considered by the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, Hazel Blears, who will respond later in the Spring before a final round of public consultation.

Steve Webb said:

"This will be the first chance in Parliament to press the Government to over-rule these crazy proposals. Whilst we accept the case for some additional housing, especially for local people trying to get onto the housing ladder, over-development on this scale is totally unacceptable.

"One of the arguments by the panel for much larger development around Yate was its "good public transport links", which will come as a big surprise to everyone who lives here.

"I will be challenging the totally undemocratic way in which an unelected panel can simply pluck a number from the air and seek to impose it on local people".