Bradley and the Leader of Bromsgrove District Council have joined forces to warn about the Labour Government’s plans to build housing on the greenbelt.
It follows the Government’s decision to impose top down mandatory housing targets on local councils. Councils will also be forced to review their greenbelt land if needed to meet their own target, this include prioritising ‘grey belt’ land – a new vague category of land that the Government is yet to clearly define.
The newly imposed mandatory housing targets means Bromsgrove District Council will have to build 704 houses a year - an extra 318 houses a year as a result of Labour’s top down target.
Bromsgrove and the Villages is 89% greenbelt, and Bradley was elected with a mandate to fight against inappropriate greenbelt development to protect our rural way of life.
Now, Bradley and Cllr Karen May, Leader of Bromsgrove District Council, are once again warning that Labour’s plans could see new housing being built on greenbelt land across the constituency.
Bradley said:
“The countryside underpins our identity, and as your MP I will fight against inappropriate greenbelt development to protect our rural way of life.
“We all accept that we need more houses, but I’m clear that I will only support development in the right locations, designed to the highest standards and on brownfield land first. This is in stark contrast to Labour’s approach which appears to be build anywhere, on anything, and without local consent.
“With Labour imposing these new houses on us, they must provide us with the infrastructure we need to support these developments. I know this is something that frustrates residents the most when they see new houses going up but infrastructure isn’t there to support them.
“Working with Cllr May, we will fight to protect our precious greenbelt and ensure the urban sprawl of Birmingham doesn’t encroach further on our wonderful countryside.”
Cllr May added:
“These new targets are being imposed on us without local consent or local say.
“The Labour Government did not consult with Bromsgrove District Council, which means the top down target imposed on us does not take into account local circumstances – including the fact Bromsgrove is 89% greenbelt.
“And where new houses are built, central government must provide us with the infrastructure we need to support more houses.”
