Mid Bedfordshire MP Blake Stephenson has expressed his concern over the Labour Government's plans for housing in his response to the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) consultation.
The Government launched a consultation on changes to the NPPF in July and during a question to Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner in the House of Commons, Blake had already criticised the plans which saw references to 'beauty' and 'beautiful' housebuilding removed.
Blake has now officially submitted his response to the consultation and highlighted his concerns around housing targets, the five year land supply, nature recovery and the delivery of infrastructure.
On infrastructure, Blake wrote: "We all know that the main objection many of our residents have to development is historic broken promises on the delivery of new infrastructure. Whether it is undelivered road projects, non-existent GP surgeries, crowded schools, or something else, too many of our communities have suffered from bad development.
"I believe that the golden rules on infrastructure set out in the consultation are sensible, but I would like to see them reinforced by a requirement that necessary infrastructure is delivered early on in development – preferably before the first houses can be occupied. I would like to see the Government commit to reforms to the way infrastructure is funded in new developments.
"Specifically, I believe that the Government should provide local authorities with upfront capital funding to deliver necessary infrastructure like GP surgeries, schools, and hospitals. This funding could then be claimed back by the Government through developer contributions once housing has been delivered."
