MP SLAMS 'TOP-DOWN DICTATORSHIP' ON REGIONAL SPATIAL STRATEGY

3.26.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Wed 23rd Apr 2008

Solihull Liberal Democrat MP Lorely Burt, has slammed the Government imposition of a further 40,000 houses on top of the 365,000 agreed by the WM Regional Assembly for the Regional Spatial Strategy.

A firm of London 'consultants' have been appointed to find a suitable location for the additional 40,000 homes and told by the Government to favour areas of 'high-market demand' like Solihull, Lichfield and other towns along the Eastern side of the Birmingham conurbation.

Speaking today in a debate in Parliament Lorely Burt said:

"The original Assembly decision regarding the number of additional homes and where they should be located has been overridden by a top-down dictatorship."

"This would mean the 40,000 additional homes will be imposed on what are probably the LEAST sustainable parts of the Region instead of areas where the infrastructure could more easily accommodate them, like parts of Birmingham and the Black Country.

In other areas like South Worcestershire there will be a massive overspill into open, green spaces, creating a conurbation between villages and destroying the tranquil, rural setting.