MP aims to block Tewkesbury new homes plan

Despite the chronic housing shortage, a Tory MP in Gloucestershire believes that far too many homes are planned for the historic town of Tewkesbury and wants to see the plans toned down to include fewer new build properties. 

Laurence Robertson MP, who represents Tewkesbury, says that Tewkesbury Borough Council is being forced to approve more than its fair share of new homes, including affordable homes, and wants the government reduce the volume of planned new homes in the region.

He told the press: "Builders are coming in with applications which would ordinarily not be in the local plan."

Three councils are working together to create a local plan for housing need in Gloucester, Cheltenham and Tewkesbury.

"We don't have the actual land space because it's constrained in terms of AONB, it's constrained in terms of greenbelt, constrained particularly in terms of flood plains and flood risk area, added Mr Robertson. "What the problem is, is getting an agreement between the three councils involved."

He wants the planning minister Nick Bowles to give councils more power to draw up their own plans to develop new homes.

According to existing plans, as many as 28,000 new homes will be built over the next few decades across Gloucester, Cheltenham and Tewkesbury.