Rotherham MP meets builders to discuss lack of new housing

Rotherham MP John Healey is calling for local house building companies to build more properties.

The MP, Labour’s Shadow Secretary of State for Housing and Planning, made the plea during a visit to a housing development in Aston.

Mr Healey visited the Parklands View development, being built by Sheffield-based firm W Redmile & Sons, after a meeting with a number of local house builders.

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The event was organised by the Federation of Master Builders.

John Healey MP said: “The share of new homes built by small and medium-sized builders has fallen to little more than 25 per cent in recent years, compared to two thirds in the late 1980s.

“This is one reason why we are currently failing to build the number of new homes we need. We need more of these smaller, locally-based house builders and we need them to be able to grow and increase their output.

“I really appreciated the chance to meet with local firms to discuss the barriers stopping them building more new homes, including difficulties accessing finance and navigating the planning system. Labour is committed to listening to and working with housebuilders of all types to find ways of building the homes we need and increasing home ownership, which has plummeted since 2010.

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“It’s only by doing this that we’ll be able to help address the cost of housing crisis, which is having such a damaging impact on many young people and families.”

Walt Selby, General Manager of W Redmile & Sons, said: “It was useful to be able to go through with Mr Healey some of the barriers we face. We want to tackle these barriers and build even more homes for local people over the coming years.”