Community concern over Labour house-building drive

Paul Carr is concerned about the impact of a proposed housing development on his local area

Residents in Staffordshire have expressed concerns about the impact of Labour's house building plans on existing communities.

The new government aims to create 1.5m homes over the next five years, streamline planning processes and prioritise building in poor quality areas.

Paul Carr is part of a community group opposing a plan for 109 homes in Fradley, near Lichfield.

"The infrastructure cannot take any more houses," he said.

Fradley Residents' Action group is campaigning against the development on a site off Horner Avenue.

Mr Carr said: "We envisage over 250 extra cars coming down the cul-de-sac.

"There's no GP services... It's over-developed."

Developer Vistry Homes says the Fradley site, recommended for approved by Lichfield District Council, would provide affordable dwellings, green space and community facilities.

Lichfield's new Labour MP Dave Robertson agreed the "major concern" of constituency residents was "what's being built and the lack of infrastructure to support that".

"I think as a government when we're trying to push that through, making sure that the infrastructure comes alongside or ahead of housing, that's something that we should really champion," he said.

Ian Bird said developments like the 2,500-home Lawnswood outside Burton-upon-Trent could take a decade to plan

Meanwhile, a developer based in Burntwood welcomed Labour's house building drive.

Ian Burns, former chief executive of Cameron Homes, said building on so-called "grey belt" sites was "well worth exploring".

"I think for the government to have the confidence and the courage to call for a review of that I think is excellent," he said.

Speaking from a site under construction in Tatenhill, Burton upon Trent, Mr Burns said such large-scale developments could be 10 years in the planning.

"What people don't always see is how long it takes us to start a development, the work that goes in before the start of the site," he said.

"I think the government hope is to streamline that process and to try and accelerate the pre-development side of planning, which... we'd welcome and champion."

Kit Bagnall is struggling to afford somewhere to rent and agrees housing reform is needed

As part of its housing plans, the government has also announced a new bill on renter's rights, which will include a ban on no-fault evictions and extend social tenant protections to private renters.

Kit Bagnall, who manages a coffee shop in Lichfield, said reform was needed for people looking to rent homes.

"Looking at the rental properties that are available, I can't afford to move in and then still eat and play the bills," she said. "I'd literally be able to afford the walls and that's it."

"If I get my own place by the time I'm 30, that's great, that's incredible. It feels so distant and something that maybe just won't happen."

'An ambitious target'

Brian Berry from the Federation of Master Builders said Labour's plans also needed to address personnel shortages in the industry.

"Three hundred thousand homes a year is a very ambitious target," he said. "We haven't got enough people at the moment to build those homes so we need a long term skills plan."

"We need to get ready to build but it's not going to be a quick fix, it's going to take time."