MP calls local plan 'absolutely preposterous' as Aylesbury village faces thousands of new homes
A Buckinghamshire-based MP has criticised the housing targets laid out in the recently-published local plan.
Bucks Council’s local plan is currently up for consultation, the authority has released a document outlining how 91,000 homes could be built in the county by 2045.
Senior officials within the council have previously criticised the 95,000 home target set by the Government, with the authority leader stating it was 43% above its projections for the period.
Mid Buckinghamshire MP Greg Smith, has criticised the targets after attending a meeting in Stoke Mandeville. He said: “It is absolutely preposterous that the Government are demanding Bucks produces a plan for 91,000 houses to be built, under the threat of removing local powers altogether. In essence this Government has taken away any local control on planning, essentially saying “do as we say or we will do it for you”.”
It was also recently revealed that the Government is looking to alter planning laws to make it easier for developments to gain approval. Recent national reports show that additional elected regional mayors would have the powers to overrule local authorities, and changes to planning clauses could enable further properties to be built near railway stations.
Upon gaining power in 2024, the Labour Government set high home-building targets to address a housing crisis. Labour MP for Aylesbury, Laura Kyrke-Smith, acknowledged the need to address housing shortages while criticising the allocations within the local plan.
Mr Smith also criticised the scales of developments which could be authorised in Stoke Mandeville. He said: “The amount of housing being proposed in the consultation for Stoke Mandeville is really unacceptable - essentially destroying the village’s rural identity and merging it with Aylesbury, Wendover, Weston Turville and Aston Clinton. I will be strongly objecting to this volume in my own consultation response and urge others to do so too.”
A 1,650-dwelling housing site could be built within the village, and a 1,350 development south of Aylesbury neighbours the area. Next to nearby Weston Turville is the site earmarked for a 3,000 home development on land off the A41.