Speaking at Communities and Local Government questions in the House of Commons today, Mr Pritchard asked the Planning Minister what more could be done to get Telford & Wrekin "Concrete Councillors" to build on brownfield land rather than on greenfields.
Mark Pritchard (The Wrekin) (Con): The concrete councillors of Labour-led Telford and Wrekin borough council seem to be building on every bit of greenfield and every green patch in the borough, despite its being a semi-rural borough.
What more can the planning Minister do to encourage this out-of-touch council to build on brownfield sites?
Brandon Lewis: We have published further guidance to help councils to appreciate that green-belt development should be an absolute last resort and that brownfield sites should always be used first. This summer, we made available to councils an extra several hundred million pounds, and I encourage my hon. Friend’s council to bid for some of that and do what it can to protect its valuable green belt. Speaking afterwards, Mr Pritchard added: “Telford & Wrekin Council seem intent on turning a semi-rural borough into an urban borough. These concrete councillors ignore local views and bulldoze habitats. The Minister has made it clear again today, brownfield sites should be built on first, of which there are many in the borough.”