BASINGSTOKE'S MP has drawn criticism from a former borough council election candidate over her campaign to slow down the number of homes built in Basingstoke. 

As previously reported, Maria Miller has launched a petition urging Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council to slow the rapid housing growth, which is putting a strain on public services.

The borough has built homes for an extra 150,000 people in the past five decades.

SEE MORE: ‘Slow it down’ - MP’s call on Basingstoke council to put an end to ‘unsustainable development’

Ms Miller said that the current construction in the borough has “ballooned to an unsustainable 1,200 new homes a year”.

Since then she has come under criticism from Bradley Phillips, Labour candidate for Sherborne St John and Rooksdown in the 2022 council elections.

Mr Phillips, a youth officer from Basingstoke Young Labour, took to Twitter to share his views. He told the Gazette that although he supports the idea behind the campaign he is confused by the idea.

He said: “I have seen the petition and, of course, I agree completely with the idea behind the petition, but I do have some problems with it. Firstly, the number proposed comes from the Government and Maria voted for those legislations to be in place and that put that onto the council.

“She voted for all of that and then when she finds out, she then seems to be shocked about it.

“Last year I was out protesting outside the council offices against more houses being built and the economic planning and housing committee agreed and it was put forward to council. They are already on board so the petition is technically already out there.”

Responding, Ms Miller added: “The council is still in the early stages of deciding what level of house building is appropriate for our next local plan. Councillors have rejected continuing to build at the current rate, but no alternative has been agreed. That's why I have launched a petition proposing that the council cut new house building levels in half, bringing them in line with the actual need of our community. In the absence of agreement amongst councillors, supporting this petition gives residents a tangible way to express their views in this part of the local plan process. 

READ MORE: 'I would like reassurance that we will have adequate water supply'

"Most other local authorities have not been building enough new homes and the planning rules reflect this which means it is difficult for Basingstoke to reduce our house building numbers. I am therefore pleased that earlier this year the borough council agreed to change its approach and to consider using the existing planning law provisions of 'exceptional circumstances' to justify a reduction in our house build numbers because we have built double the rate of new homes compared with the rest of the country for over five decades.

"By signing the petition residents can send a strong message to the local council and the planning inspectorate that enough is enough. We must cut new house building levels in half to give our local services time particularly the NHS time to catch up with increased demand, to help meet the council’s climate emergency declaration and to ensure a sustainable future for our community.”