Yesterday Anthony took part in a Westminster Hall debate on the Planning For The Future White Paper, a subject that he, along with many residents from across Totnes and South Devon, feels very strongly about.
During the debate he raised issues such as the need for housing plans to recognise that the rural build structure is very different to that of urban areas, particularly in areas like our own.
Today, the Government has rightly announced that a new method will be introduced to enable the delivery of 300,000 homes a year, prioritising brownfield sites and urban areas. More homes will be built in England’s largest cities and urban centres, boosting local economies and revitalising high streets while protecting green spaces. The government is committed to ensuring funding is distributed more fairly across England instead of being concentrated in London and the South East, and has announced £12 billion will be invested in affordable homes over the next five years.
Speaking after the debate, Anthony said "I have been working with colleagues and local residents alike to ensure the needs of South Devon are met, and am pleased that the government has listened to my concerns. This announcement should be welcome and I will continue to work to ensure that local communities are fully engaged in the planning process through Neighbourhood plans and that we build in a manner that takes into account social needs, job availability and infrastructure suitability.
A huge thanks to those local groups who have been brilliant in working with me on this issue."
Read the full debate here: https://hansard.parliament.uk/commons/2020-12-15/debates/3B1FBB3A-B639-…