THE Labour government has proposed new housing targets which will see many hundreds of extra homes imposed in our constituency every year.

Under their proposals, Test Valley’s allocation will almost double from 524 to 921 annually, while Basingstoke and Deane would see an extra 309 homes from 828 to 1,137.

Despite the previous government building a million homes in the last Parliament, we still have a housing crisis, and we need to build new homes. But they need to be built in the right places — and local people know best when it comes to where they should be built and what they should look like.

The problem is that for too many in our constituency, it feels as if they have no say or control in the planning process. Whether in Whitchurch where locals are battling a proposed development near the AONB, or the proposed solar farm north of Kingsclere, local people are feeling helpless. If we are to succeed in building more homes, local people must be put in charge through their Neighbourhood Plan. 

I am also alarmed that the new government want to reclassify parts of our green belt as “grey belt” so it can be built on. I know a slippery slope when I see one and we must be on our guard. 

Here in North West Hampshire, we are fortunate to live in some of the most beautiful landscape in England. The Downs are rightly designated as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. I have already demanded in the House of Commons that this protection must be respected within our planning system, and I am campaigning for the whole North Wessex Downs to be upgraded to National Park status providing even more protection. 

The Government has launched a consultation on their proposed new targets and changes to the planning system. It can be found on gov.uk and I encourage you to have your say before the deadline on 24th September.