Bath’s MP Ben Howlett has told local property professionals that more affordable homes need to be built to ensure the city’s future economic wellbeing.
Mr Howlett was addressing a property and construction networking event jointly organised by Bath law firm Stone King, chartered surveyors Colston & Colston and building services company Airedale Group.
Bath’s Conservative MP told the gathering that the current “archaic planning system” needed overhauling in order to free-up brownfield sites for housing development.
The government recently announced that 7,000 new homes are to be built in the region and developers could get automatic planning permission to build on disused industrial sites.
“We need to get house building in Bath up to a faster pace and deliver more affordable homes,” said Mr Howlett during a question and answer session with Bath’s property professionals.
“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.
Julia Davenport-Cooper, Head of Construction at Stone King, 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.”
To register your interest in attending the next event contact Léonie Spencer at Stone King on [email protected] or 01225 337599.
