West Worcestershire MP Harriett Baldwin has today welcomed Government plans to support local authorities to deliver the right homes for local communities.

Housing Secretary Michael Gove today offered £37 million of additional funding to help councils deal with local planning backlogs and drive forward ambitious plans to build larger scale housing projects.

The Government will also allow local authorities to increase their fees for planning applications with fees for large developments rising by 35 per cent and all other applications being hiked by 25 per cent.

Harriett commented:

“From time to time, I get complaints from constituents about the time it is taking for local councils to address new planning applications and I encourage Malvern Hills and Wychavon District Councils to apply to this new fund.

“Of greater concern to us all, is the time taken to get the new South Worcestershire Development Plan in place, to head off the wave of speculative planning applications that are emerging.

“I have always supported the small, organic growth of local communities and housebuilding at sites where it has the expressed support of local people.

“There’s extra money in this announcement to support the development of Neighbourhood Plans. By having a clear, democratically approved local plans in place, we can ensure that new homes are built in the right places and at the right time.”