Recently I met with the residents of Hockley Heath at a meeting organised by Hockley Heath Parish Council and the local action group to discuss proposed development in the area.
I have made protecting the greenbelt in Meriden and Solihull East one of my top
priorities since being elected in 2019. Following the General Election in 2024, I have raised numerous objections to the Government’s National Planning Policy Framework which puts huge pressures on rural areas.
Solihull Borough is seeing its housing targets increase from 866 to a 1,317. This is in stark contrast to Birmingham which is seeing its housing targets drop to 4,974 from 7,714. More broadly, the Government’s current housing targets mean development targets in London are being cut by 11 per cent and 55 per cent in Coventry. This is fundamentally unfair.
It is clear that my constituents in Hockley Heath and I are in lockstep in our belief that these planning proposals could have a significant impact on the local greenbelt. We also agree that the Government’s National Planning Policy Framework is gravely unfair and will put enormous pressures on rural communities whilst leaving urban areas like Birmingham criminally undeveloped.
I will continue to work tirelessly with my constituents to protect our precious greenbelt, preserve our natural environment and ensure that the people of Hockley Heath are treated fairly and with consideration. Thank you to everyone who took time to attend the meeting and to the Parish Council and local action group for organising it.
