Weekly column | 9th February 2017

Since my last column it’s been a fascinating time in Parliament. Over the last few weeks we have debated the Article 50 Bill which will start the process for the UK to leave the European Union (EU).

The Bill itself only has one substantive clause.  As you would expect, there has been a significant amount of debate over a number days with dozens of amendments tabled by opposition MPs.  Many of these amendments have been designed to frustrate the Bill and the triggering of Article 50.

In line with the wishes of the majority of voters last June the Government has rightly resisted those amendments and the Bill will now go to the House of Lords for scrutiny. Given the view of the majority of members of the public I sincerely hope that the Lords, who themselves are not elected, will not seek to frustrate the democratic will of the people

This week we have also seen the release of the Government’s White Paper on Housing. This document is a public consultation which will lead to the Government delivering a new housing programme.  

As I have said on many occasions, we definitely need the provision of new housing across the country. The challenge is to agree where those new homes are to be built, how sustainable communities can be created around them and how the views of local people can be taken into account.  There is also a push to bring forward housing in town centres and around train stations.

I was pleased to see the Government reaffirm its commitment to the Green Belt.  A local authority may only amend it in exceptional circumstances and after consulting local people. Developments should always take place firstly on brownfield sites.

Regrettably, our own local Borough Council has released the latest version of the Borough Plan demonstrating very little consideration of the views of local people or any appreciation of the need to bring forward much needed infrastructure.

In the Plan there is not one site in Nuneaton Town Centre which is earmarked for housing. By taking this approach we really are missing a trick. New housing in the Town Centre would give a massive boost to the town.  New homes will act as a stimulus for attracting new shops and restaurants and get rid of some of the redundant retail space that currently exists.

In Nuneaton we have a train station which puts people 30 minutes from Birmingham and Leicester, 20 minutes from Coventry and, at its quickest, 55 minutes from London. The Town Centre is therefore a prime location to attract more young people with decent incomes who want a lower cost of accommodation than in more prominent city centre areas.

No community will welcome new housing unless there is the right infrastructure in place to prevent further strain on already stretched local resources.  A sustainable environment needs roads, rail links, schools, shops, GP surgeries and playgrounds alongside new developments.

So the Government is taking steps to ensure infrastructure is provided in the right place by coordinating Government investment, including through the targeting of the £2.3bn Housing Infrastructure fund.

Locally, we should look at schemes that would allow us to bid for funding from that housing investment source.

Thus far, the debate over local infrastructure to deliver new housing in Nuneaton has been non- existent which is so disappointing.

There has been an attitude from the Borough Council that they would first decide where to build and then subsequently consult the County Council which has to deliver the necessary roads and school places. There needs to be a spirit of working together so that development could be delivered where we can easily connect to infrastructure.

This is a massive issue for local people. Residents want housing for their younger relatives as well as places to which our older people may wish to retire.  But they also want new development to be undertaken in a way which is sympathetic to the views of local people.

I would appeal to our senior Borough Councillors to work with the County Council to put together a proper plan of how we are going to deal with the current and future challenges around infrastructure.

If it is appropriate for plans to be changed then Councillors should never fear losing face, but act in the best interest of local people.