More must be done to incentivise developers to build on brownfield sites to increase the number of new properties while protecting greenbelt, an MP has said.
Shipley MP Philip Davies took Housing Minister Esther McVey to new development The Exchange on Crag Road in Shipley to hear first-hand from developers Skipton Properties how government could help facilitate more builds like this across the country.
Mr Davies said: “The Exchange build by Skipton Properties is a model development and I wanted Esther to see for herself how Shipley is leading the way in building affordable homes for its communities. I want to see more of builds like this as we need to increase the number of high quality homes for local people on brownfield sites.
“Government says it is committed to protecting greenbelt land and want developers to build on brownfield sites but that comes with higher start up costs as often the land needs to be made suitable for building, which includes flood work and remediation. Therefore it is vital we listen to developers on what needs to be done to tackle the problem.
“These homes developed by Skipton Properties are genuinely affordable starting at £87,500, while houses built on the greenbelt tend to be more costly and do nothing to help people onto the housing ladder.”
A £1.8 million grant was provided by Homes England to help with the remediation of the Crag Road site, which included clearing away tyres, to prepare it for the 85 properties.
Managing Director of Skipton Properties Sarah Barraclough met with Mr Davies and Ms McVey.
She said: “We are experts at taking unloved, neglected areas and completely transforming these often difficult sites into genuinely beautiful homes that blend seamlessly with the surroundings and benefit the local community. On this particular brownfield site, we worked closely with Homes England to make sure we had the infrastructure to fulfil our vision. For The Exchange to be picked out by the Housing Minister as a shining example of new build homes is testament to the hard work of our team.”