James Sunderland raises concerns about rampant house building in east Berkshire and seeks assurances that the new Planning Bill will protect local assets such as farmland, school playing fields, golf courses, open spaces and the Pinewood Centre in Crowthorne.
James Sunderland (Bracknell) (Con)
The Minister will know I am very concerned about rampant house building in east Berkshire and elsewhere in the south of England. Will he please assure me of what might be forthcoming in the planning Bill to protect assets such as farmland, school playing fields, golf courses, open spaces and the Pinewood Centre in Crowthorne?
Michael Gove (The Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities)
I am grateful to my hon. Friend and constituency neighbour for making that important point. He represents a beautiful part of east Berkshire, and it is important that we maintain our protections for areas of environmental importance and areas of aesthetic distinction. We all need to recognise that sustainable additions to the current housing stock are an important part of making sure the next generation also have a chance to own homes, too.