Bradley Thomas MP has launched a parliamentary petition to demand the Labour Government justifies the ‘flawed’ formula used to calculate the 85% increase in Bromsgrove’s housing target to rebalance the housing target so that Birmingham takes its fair share.
It also demands that the planned 85% increase in Bromsgrove District’s housing target is reversed, in addition to the reversal of the reduction in Birmingham’s housing target to ensure the burden is shared in a fair and proportionate way and only allow new houses to be built when the accompanying infrastructure is provided.
The petition has been launched in the wake of the publication of Bromsgrove District Council's Draft Local Plan for future housing development which has had to be revised following the Government’s 85% increase in Bromsgrove District’s mandatory housing target.
Bromsgrove District is 89% greenbelt and 79% rural, but the Government has made the decision to reduce Birmingham’s target by 31% - despite the city having at least 140 hectares of brownfield land that could be built on.
Since last year Bradley has been fighting to protect the greenbelt. He responded to the Government’s consultation and highlighted the flawed formula used which resulted in an 85% increase in Bromsgrove’s target.
He’s now ramping up his efforts to protect the greenbelt by launching a parliamentary petition.
Bradley said:
“I was elected last year with a mandate to fight to protect the greenbelt and that’s exactly what I’ve been doing.
“Our greenbelt is under assault and we’re now seeing the true impact of the Government’s 85% increase in the mandatory housing target for Bromsgrove and the Villages.
“It’s just wrong that this is being imposed on us when the formula the Government used to calculate our local housing need is flawed.
“It also just doesn’t make sense that our target has been increased when the Government has reduced Birmingham’s target by 31%. The city has at least 140 hectares of brownfield sites to build on. They should build on those sites before coming after our precious greenbelt.
“If you’re as aggrieved as I am by how the Government has treated our constituency, then please do sign my petition so we can put pressure on Ministers to come to the House of Commons to justify their decisions.”
Residents can sign the petition by clicking here.
