New homes in the right places

Whenever I speak with people who live, work or travel through the Allington and Barming wards of Maidstone, which is frequently, it is never long before the conversation turns to the adverse consequences of overdevelopment around Hermitage Lane.

Earlier this month, Maidstone Borough Council published its Draft Local Plan Review.

‘House building’ always features very heavily in my post bag and it’s not difficult to understand why; the building of new homes impacts upon so many aspects of our everyday life, changing our environment and revising familiar localities permanently.

Since I became the MP for Maidstone and The Weald in 2010, I have been visibly and publicly opposed to the number of houses which central Government have imposed on our part of Kent.

Last week in my piece for the online edition of Downs Mail I heralded a meeting scheduled for last Thursday (16th July), between Maidstone Borough Council (MBC) and officials from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, where MBC were seeking to mitigate the heavy housing burde

Aside from the all-encompassing omnipresence of Brexit and Covid-19 these last few months, the single biggest issue raised with me by the people of Maidstone and The Weald concerns the building of new houses across our gorgeous, green garden of England.  The controversially high number finally ar

One of the big issues concerning residents of Maidstone and The Weald over the last few years has been the spectre of substantial new housing developments underscored by a lack of commitment to necessary supporting infrastructure.

For at least the last five years, the most persistent  issue raised with me by the people of Maidstone & the Weald has been concern about excessive housing development, particularly when it isn’t accompanied by the required infrastructure.   It was at the forefront of my discussions on the do

2020 is certain to be an historic year for our sceptered isles. We will leave the European Union and chart a new relationship with our closest geographical neighbours, based on free trade and security co-operation.

Local MPs Tracey Crouch and Helen Grant have formally requested the Secretary of State call in the Gladman application to develop land between Aylesford and Allington.