"More flexibility needed to ensure homes for local people" - Farron

3.00.00pm GMT Wed 28th Nov 2007

Local MP, Tim Farron spoke in the House of Commons last night during the debate on the Housing and Regeneration Bill, and voiced his concerns that inflexible planning rules - especially in the national parks - were preventing the provision of affordable homes for local people. As a result, Mr Farron expressed scepticism that the targets set by the Government would be missed due to this inflexibility on planning restrictions.

During the debate, Mr Farron said:

"Even though the figures from the Government may be insufficiently ambitious, they will still not be met in parts of the country such as mine, which include national parks, where the restrictions are such that often housing need is not taken fully into account."

Mr Farron is working with Liberal Democrat colleagues and the National Farmers Union on the 'Home on the Farm' idea, which will see more affordable housing created from disused farm outbuildings.