West Worcestershire MP Harriett Baldwin has welcomed commitments which will see the Government move away from centrally-imposed house building targets which risk blighting rural communities.

The MP has been involved in discussions with Housing Minister Lucy Frazer who is responsible for securing the passage of the Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill through the House of Commons.

The legislation will now be amended to remove compulsory housing targets which Harriett objected to, as she has since before she became an MP in 2010.

This week, the Government confirmed that housing targets will no longer be mandatory and local people – and local district councillors - will continue to have their say on what development is acceptable.

Harriett commented:

“I have always supported new house building where it is done with the consent of local people and as a nation, we must do much more to help more people to benefit from owning their own home.

“Our own local planning blueprint is currently being consulted on and I’m encouraging people to make sure they have their say so that local views take priority.

“I stood firm against top-down housing targets and I am pleased that the Government has moved to remove this principle from the new legislation.

“Official statistics show that in Worcestershire, we have built four times more new homes than the national average this year. I have always felt that development should take place where local people want it and not be imposed by Whitehall mandarins.”