Local MP, Maria Miller, spoke in the House of Commons chamber on housebuilding, and received confirmation from the Housing Minister that Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council’s new Local Plan should reflect the constituency’s particular constraints and ‘special circumstances’, given that Basingstoke has built an additional 50% more homes than the national average over the past 20 years.
Maria said: “Compared with communities across the country, Basingstoke has built 50% more new homes over the past two decades. Local residents want to make sure that we have homes for our children and grandchildren, but we believe that Basingstoke has been doing far more than that. What advice can my right hon. Friend give my local council on how we can make sure that future projected house-building levels reflect the very special circumstances in my constituency?
To which the Minister responded: “I commend my right hon. Friend and her council for all the sterling work they have done to build the homes in Basingstoke that people need. The important thing is for people to make sure that their local plan is up to date and that they agree a sound plan with the Planning Inspectorate, based on the constraints that there are, to get the number of houses they need. I am very happy to work with her to make sure that that is so.”