Sheffield MP warns of "hotchpotch" developments as he criticises PM's speech

Clive Betts, MP for Sheffield South East, said the speech by Boris Johnson was big on soundbites but short on action.

The PM said he wanted to use the coronavirus crisis as an opportunity to "to build the homes, to fix the NHS, to tackle the skills crisis, to mend the indefensible gap in opportunity and productivity and connectivity between the regions of the UK".

His "build, build, build" announcement included £5bn investment in hospitals, roads, parks, high streets, transport, schools, prisons and local projects.

But Mr Betts dubbed it "re-heated schools and re-announced proposals" and was particularly critical of the announcement on planning regulations.

He said: "What we needed was a clear commitment to embark on a major programme of affordable rented homes built by councils and housing associations to get the economy moving, to create jobs and to provide the homes that people desperately need.

"Once again we got the old repeated promise to reform the planning system which in practice will mean taking away from local communities the right to have a say in what is built in their areas and leading to more substandard and badly planned developments.

"The reality is that there are hundreds of thousands of planning permissions already given in this country for homes that could be built tomorrow but where developers have yet to put a spade in the ground.

"Of course, we need new development but allowing the odd conversion of shops into homes will not solve the housing crisis nor improve the appearance and attractiveness of the centres as places to visit.

"They will lead to a hotchpotch of unattractive development when what many of the centres need is wholesale regeneration and improvement in a planned and coordinated way."

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