Local Hastings and Rye MP Sally-Ann Hart stood up for local people struggling to get onto the property ladder by demanding that developers who have gained planning permission for new homes get on and build them.
In the House of Commons, Sally-Ann asked the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local
Government “the Housing White Paper provided that developers should start to build within two years
of securing planning permission, can the Minister update the House on what progress has been made
ensuring that moving ahead developers build the homes we need and not sit on land.”
In response the Secretary of State, Robert Jenrick MP, stated “we want to see new homes built out as
soon as possible once planning permission is granted. She’s right to refer to the previous Housing White
Paper and this will be an important element of the forthcoming Planning White Paper. Developers and
local authorities should be working closely together at a local level to deliver this and I will be looking at
whatever is necessary, including amending legalisation, to make sure that we are building the homes this
country needs and quickly.”
After her exchange with the Secretary of State Sally-Ann had this to say “I am determined that we get the
new homes that local residents need, and I was encouraged by the Secretary of State’s commitment to
look at all avenues to ensure we are getting developers to build these homes once they secure planning
permission. It cannot be right that whilst young first buyers are desperately waiting for new homes to
come on the market, developers are sitting on land, already with planning permission obtained, just so the
value can increase, and they can sell it on at a later date. We must do more, and I’m pleased to hear this
Government will do just that.”
