Housebuilding is one of the most contentious issues here in Faversham and Mid Kent.
I hear from people all the time who are unhappy about the scale of development locally, as well as people desperate for a house of their own.
As an MP I don’t have a say on what development goes where, but what I can do is influence national planning policy - something I’ve been working hard to do with other Kent MPs.
Earlier this year we successfully called for a consultation on the government’s housebuilding strategy.
The new strategy is proposing some really important changes, like scrapping mandatory housing targets for local authorities, and I wanted to make sure my constituents had their say.
That’s why in the spring I sent a survey out to a number of local wards, asking questions about what’s being proposed and the impact of the development that’s happened so far.
My team and I have been poring over the data, and on Friday I wrote to the Housing Secretary setting out the results.
You can read my full letter below, in which I set out our local red lines: that development should come with proper improvements to local services, and shouldn’t come at the expense of our beautiful countryside.
While it wasn’t possible to survey every household in the constituency, I’m confident that the results mirror what people think across Faversham and Mid Kent - they’re in line with what I’ve heard from local residents for years.
Thank you to everyone who took part, and all those who’ve written to me in the past. This letter could mean better planning policy for generations to come.
