"Both Babergh and Mid Suffolk district councils face the challenge of not meeting their required five year land supply. In short, they are both failing to deliver enough homes and national planning rules are becoming more important than local ones. As local MPs we share the concern of many residents that this could result in unsustainable levels of development being seemingly forced through without adequate infrastructure in place.
Of course, we both understand entirely the need for providing new homes, particularly for young families and those seeking to downsize. However, it is important to strike the right balance between building sufficient housing an dprotecting our beautiful countryside. We have therefore agreed with senior officials and councillors from Babergh and Mid Suffolk to hold a meeting in July to address public concerns.
To be clear, unless there are exceptional reasons- for example Areas of Outstanding National Beauty- we all know that no community can expect to block out all proposed development. What all surely want is a way to deliver sustainable levels of development that as far as possible has the support of local communities. Therefore we are seeking reassurances from both districts that fear of over development will be heeded. Further, that actions will be taken to restore the primacy of local control- rahter than national policey- over where houses are built in our locality."