𝐇𝐨𝐮𝐬𝐞𝐛𝐮𝐢𝐥𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐢𝐧 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐚

In April, I wrote to the Housing Minister about the unrealistic high housing targets being imposed on Rother and Wealden.

I’ve now had a response. While the Government says councils can take account of things like protected landscapes, flood risk and the amount of suitable land available, I’m disappointed they haven’t really answered the main question: are these targets actually realistic for areas like ours?

Rother is being asked to plan for 1,504 new homes a year, despite much of the district being protected countryside and the very real pressures on roads, GPs, schools and other local services that constituents raise with me day to day.

We do need new homes, especially homes local people can afford. But development has to be sensible, in the right places and backed up by the infrastructure communities need.