James Duddridge, Member of Parliament for Rochford and Southend East, has today made his views heard, about the requirement of Rochford District Council to build 4,600 homes in the Rochford district, in order to meet Government housing targets.
James acknowledges the need for more homes, but is concerned that they could be put in the wrong place. In his letter to Paul Warren, Chief Executive of Rochford District Council, James voiced his concerns about the amount of building in the Great Wakering area, which he feels has already suffered from over development and urged the council to think carefully about the locations chosen for developments in this area.
James said:
“In my response to the core strategy, I have urged the council to consider only building on brown field sites in the Great Wakering area, as I feel that if homes were built on any other sites in Great Wakering, then the landscape and nature of this area would be changed irreversibly.”
“I do understand that the Government have put the council in a very difficult position and I have made it clear that I favour a more localised approach to planning rather than the Government’s top down approach and housing targets. However, the Council must make a decision and I hope that they take local people’s views on board when deciding where to put these extra homes.”
11 February 2009