THE MP for Basingstoke has sparked a debate in the House of Commons reinforcing her opinion that Basingstoke has faced "extraordinary levels of housebuilding".

On Tuesday, January 23, Maria Miller secured a debate regarding the Government's updated planning policy in the House of Commons.

Maria specifically focused on the broadened scope of ‘exceptional circumstances’ which provided authorities like Basingstoke and Deane with the opportunity to argue for reduced housebuilding numbers if they can prove such circumstances.

In the debate, Basingstoke's MP Maria Miller, said: "The primary and most compelling factor that makes Basingstoke and Deane an outlier is our extraordinary levels of hospital housebuilding. 

READ MORE: Basingstoke local plan to move forward into public consultation stage

Basingstoke Gazette: Maria Miller in parliament and outside Basingstoke hospital

The Government has invested record sums into my community but we are fast feeling maxed out."

Lee Rowley, the minister for housing, planning and building safety responded and said he understands concerns that Basingstoke has seen houses built in excess.

He added: "There were a number of measures which were announced in the National Policy Framework. We have been consistently clear that the standard method is a starting point for local authorities in accessing what to plan for and that it does not set a mandatory target.

"Local authorities should be in no doubt that the outcome of the standard method is an advisory starting point for establishing housing requirements through plan making.  This means that local authorities, again for the avoidance of doubt, can put forward their own approach to accessing needs where certain exceptional circumstances exist."

As previously reported, government calculations suggest as many as 17,820 new homes need to be built in the borough by the end of 2039.

The plan includes a ‘stepped trajectory’ approach, put forward by the new administration, which will see the current government figure of building 850 homes a year reduced to less than 700 a year from 2025 for the first five years of the plan.

The Government published its new national planning policy framework just before Christmas last year which sets the rules for authorities as local plans are prepared. 

SEE ALSO: Consultation on borough’s draft Local Plan Update underway

In the updated National Planning Framework document, published on Tuesday, December 19 it states "the outcome of the standard method is an advisory starting-point for establishing a housing requirement".

It goes on to state that there must be exceptional circumstances to change the housing number.

The decision was made during a meeting of Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council’s cabinet on Tuesday, January 9 to push forward with plans. 

In the meeting Cllr Andy McCormick said he sees "no reason to delay the plan any further".

He said the "impact of the framework" is not "as straightforward as some none experts claim".

He said:  "There seems to be a consensus in the community that the new framework hasn't changed a lot in reality. However, given how much is at stake it would be negligent of us if we didn't seek further expert guidance so that is exactly what we are going to do."