Telford MP says PM's new build rules will help town

The Prime Minister said developers would be forced to ensure 10 per cent of all major projects were reserved for affordable housing.

The move has been welcomed by Telford MP Lucy Allan, who has campaigned on the issue.

Ms Allan has called the lack of affordable housing "one of the biggest challenges facing the country". She said the growth of Telford was being threatened because of the inability of young people to get onto the property ladder.

Mrs May said young people are "right to be angry" at their slim chances of home ownership, and that a lack of options for them is "exacerbating divisions between generations".

During a speech to the National Planning Conference, Mrs May announced a number of possible proposals, including giving councils powers to get tougher on developers who don't start work quickly enough after permission is granted.

Ms Allan said: “This is welcome news, which will go a long way to making the dream of home ownership attainable for current renters and future generations in Telford.

“It is important that developers building new homes understand what is expected of them.

Ongoing problems with new build estates

“We have seen ongoing problems with new build estates in Telford, such as Lawley Village, where infrastructure and maintenance of the area lags behind building.

“I hope that these new measures will ensure that the new homes, built in Telford, meet quality standards and ensure that developers fully contribute to community infrastructure.

“I know how important this issue is to the Housing Secretary Dominic Raab, and I look forward to working with him, and the government, in my capacity as both Telford’s MP and as the chair of the New Town's All Party Action Group.”

The Prime Minister said the existing National Planning Policy Framework will be overhauled pending a consultation, with up to 80 proposals first put forward last year being implemented.

Some of the notable measures set out in Mrs May's speech include that 10 per cent of homes on 'major sites' should be available for affordable home ownership, that builders should be more open about affordable housing commitments at planning stage and that councils will have to adopt a new nationwide standard to demonstrate housing need in their areas.

The PM also stressed that existing and future infrastructure should be taken into account when developments were being considered at the pre-planning stage, that councils could consider revoking planning permission after two years if building work still hasn't started, and that there should be additional protections for ancient woodland and aged trees.