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Department for Communities and Local Government
Queen’s Speech – Decentralisation and Localism Bill
Annette Brooke MP - Official Website
Steve Brine MP - Official Website
Published: Thurs, 3rd June - 10.10 GMT
Last Updated: Mon, 7th June - 11.24 GMT
New government scraps Labour
housing plans
Coalition government Communities Secretary says he will scrap house building targets in an attempt to protect democracy and green belt land.
Government house building targets are to be scrapped in order for planning to be more democratic, the Communities Secretary has announced.
Eric Pickles says that councils will no longer be “bossed around” by central government and will now be able to set their own housing targets through the Decentralisation and Localism Bill.
He accused Labour of using top-down targets which were undemocratic and were destroying the green belt around towns and cities.
There has been widespread support for the announcement, which is hoped will give locals more say over their area.
Lib Dem Mid Dorset and North Poole MP Annette Brooke strongly welcomes the new policy after having to fight green belt development on behalf of her constituents.
'Optimistic'
She said: “I’m very optimistic. The power of decision making to be returned to local people is very much part of my philosophy.”
New Tory MP for Winchester Steve Brine said that planners should now “take a clear message from Government that they are not to plough ahead with controversial developments against the wishes of local people.”
Finishing what Labour started?
However, Simon Worsfold of the South East England Partnership Board said Labour was already starting to recognise the desire for localism in recent years.
“They abolished the South East’s Regional Assembly and commissioned the 2007 Sub-National Review,” he said.
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