Bath desperately needs more affordable housing to ensure its future economic wellbeing, the city’s recently-elected Bath MP Ben Howlett told local property professionals.
Key to this was overhauling the “archaic planning system” to free-up brownfield sites for housing development, Mr Howlett said.
Addressing the second in a series of property and construction networking events in the city, the Conservative MP welcomed measures in last month’s Budget to encourage housebuilding by allowing developers to get automatic planning permission to build on disused industrial sites.
Mr Howlett told the gathering, organised by Bath law firm Stone King, chartered surveyors Colston & Colston and building services company Airedale Group: “We need to get housebuilding in Bath up to a faster pace and deliver more affordable homes.
“Otherwise employers may struggle to find the local staff they need.”
He added that there was huge frustration that owners were sitting on land and not developing sites fast enough. The Government recently announced that 7,000 new homes are to be built in the region.
Stone King head of construction, Julia Davenport-Cooper, said: “We would like to thank Ben Howlett for coming along to give his views on the housing situation and answer questions.
“It was a fantastic turnout with more than 100 property and construction professionals attending the event.”
The event took place at The Abbey Hotel.
To register for future events contact Léonie Spencer at Stone King on LCS@stoneking.co.uk or 01225 337599.
Pictured: Bath MP Ben Howlett
