The Planning and Infrastructure Bill is part of the Government’s war on rural England, which I completely oppose.
This Government has overseen the implementation of the family farm tax, withdrawn the Rural Services Delivery Grant and the axed of the Sustainable Farming Incentive. As you note, this Government isn’t done yet though, it is removing local democratic accountability and hushing local voices while introducing an average doubling – a 100 per cent increase – of housebuilding targets for predominantly rural areas.
While I fully support the need to build more housing, it must be done in the right places, and with proper consultation and consent from the communities affected.
Please know that, in the House of Commons, before this bill went to the Lords, my colleagues worked tirelessly to improve the provisions of this bill and ensure local voices were heard. Unfortunately, the Government chose not to vote for their amendments and not to support their work to improve this bill.