Lib Dems Submit Housing Report To West Midlands Select Committee

3.10.00pm GMT Tue 12th Jan 2010

Richard Burt today submitted alternative proposals to mass housing development in South Worcestershire to an enquiry set up by the West Midlands Parliamentary Select Committee, scrutinising progress on the Regional Spatial Strategy.

The Select Committee, comprising West Midlands Labour MPs and Dr Richard Taylor from Wyre Forest, is investigating the effect of current plans and their impact on local planning authorities.

Richard said: "This investigation clearly will not change the outcome of the Regional Spatial Strategy, but it is important to make sure that local people's voices are heard loud and clear.

"I have forwarded South Worcestershire Housing Action Group's alternative vision for housing development, calling for the suspension of the Regional Spatial Strategy and its replacement with five year rolling development plans, anticipating a local need of just under 11,000 new houses, rather than local council proposals for 24,500 by 2026.

"If the current mass housing plans ever pass into law, they will herald a free-for all for developers who want to build on green land to maximise profits.

"Everyone knows we need more affordable housing, but opening up huge swathes of countryside between our towns and villages is not the answer."

The Select Committee is asking for written submissions by noon on Monday 25 January 2010 and expects to hold its first evidence session in early February.