Chester MP speaks out on green belt development

Chris Matheson MP has spoken out about the impact of building on green belt land in Chester and the need for a fairer system.

Chris has long campaigned for a system which favours communities over developers. In the Westminster Hall debate held on October 12^th, he said:

 “The green belt is there for a reason. It must be there for everybody. It must be defended. Almost three quarters of my constituency, despite the name City of Chester, is green belt. We have seen in the last few years I am afraid, developments which have been placed there in green belt areas, and they have been opposed by the local community, opposed by the council, but overturned on appeal and granted by the government.”

Chris talked about local examples including Sealand Road, where developments have gone ahead against the wishes of residents and the council.

He added: “What we are seeing is a system where developers put in speculative applications, often for large executive homes in attractive areas, and they eventually get them through. If they win on appeal, the council has to pay their legal costs. This is a system skewed in favour of the developers, and though I don’t blame them for seeking to maximise their profits, this cannot keep coming at the expense of local communities who know what they are talking about when they raise objections.”

Chris also said: “When we have a chronic housing shortage in places like Chester, what we need is a planning system which addresses the need for affordable homes built sustainably. This debate showed how MPs from across the country are hearing the same complaints from their constituents on this issue. The Conservative government is clearly more interested in making things easier for the large building companies who donate to their party than providing real solutions to the housing crisis. We need change, and I will keep fighting for this.”