Cllr Pauline Jorgensen: The right homes in the right places

Irecently spoke to Housing Minister Felicity Buchan about how central Government housing numbers have not worked for Wokingham Borough. I want young people to be able to get on the housing ladder and I want to see more high-quality, affordable homes. But our current numbers are based on a flawed calculation which pushes more housing on areas who’ve met their targets.

Instead, we need to increase housing and employment opportunities beyond London and the South East.

Labour Leader Sir Keir Starmer has said he would increase housing targets and allow building on the Green Belt.

He would “choose the builders, not the blockers” – developers over local people’s concerns.

Liberal Democrats face both ways, nationally they campaign for more housing and higher targets, but locally they opposed building before they took control of the Council. Now they are stalling their plan for future development in Wokingham Borough, risking inappropriate development by appeal.

When Conservatives ran the Council, we met the Secretary of State for Local Government, Housing Ministers, and our MPs to press the case for cutting Wokingham Borough’s housing numbers. We also campaigned with other councils for a reduced target. Our work persuaded the Government to halve the Borough’s housing targets. The Government recognises that targets should have new flexibility to reflect local circumstances.

This was a fantastic start, but we believe new housing numbers for Wokingham Borough should be lower to be sustainable. And by working with our local MPs, that’s what I’m trying to achieve.

Cllr Pauline Jorgensen

Leader of the Conservative Group Wokingham Borough Council and Parliamentary Candidate for Earley and Woodley