Caroline Dinenage this week challenged the Government over proposed planning reforms in Parliament. Speaking from the backbenches, the Gosport MP and former Digital and Culture Minister told the Secretary of State, the Rt Hon Michael Gove MP, that housing numbers in Government proposals would negatively impact her constituency and asked for a re-think.
In questions to the new Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, Caroline asked when the Government’s response to the consultation on the Planning For the Future White Paper would be published, saying:
“The Gosport peninsula is over 80% built on with a further 12% conservation area. There is simply nowhere to build the wildly unrealistic 2014 housing numbers without decimating any remaining green space and vital strategic gap.
Worse, the drop in housing need in the 2018 ONS population data reveals our actual housing need is 3000 less homes.
I really understand the nation needs houses, but this Government champions localism, can he please give me hope that they won’t be imposing unrealistic, outdated housing numbers on us?”
In response to Caroline’s question, his first in the new role as Secretary of State for the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, Michael Gove said:
“I completely understand the unique issues faced by my hon. Friend’s constituents. The unique geography of the peninsula and the communities she represents poses particular challenges when it comes not just to meeting local housing need, but to respecting the environment and, indeed, the nature of the communities and their special cherishable character. As we take forward our proposals for planning reform, we will be balancing the need for new housing with environmental concerns and also the vital importance of listening to local people.”
Commenting Caroline said:
“The housing targets for the Gosport Peninsula are based on projected population numbers from 2014 rather than the most recent figures, which are substantially lower. I am pleased that the Housing Secretary has agreed to listen to local people before setting out his future plans. It’s the only way we can protect our remaining green spaces and strategic gap from being concreted over for additional housing on a scale that is simply not required in our area.”
