A leading county councillor is accusing the new Labour Government of "showing scant regard for Suffolk" over planning reforms that could see a "significant uplift" in the number of new homes being built.
Local authorities have been consulted on proposed Government reforms to national planning policies and Suffolk County Council was among those to respond, warning there was "a lack of clarity" around infrastructure to accompany new housing developments.
In particular, the authority wanted to know what schools, waste, transport and community facilities would be provided alongside proposed new homes, with Suffolk facing a "significant increase" in the number of new builds.
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Earlier this week, this newspaper revealed how Saxmundham town councillors, responding to the same Government consultation, had called for a new "Severely Impacted Zone" designation in planning laws, warning their town was being swamped by a "concrete tsunami" of developments.
This designation aimed to ensure that infrastructure and housing projects were coordinated to ensure communities were compensated for the effects of new developments.
The east Suffolk market town is set to feel the impact from a number of major building projects, including plans for a new 800 home "Garden Neighbourhood" to the south of the town and a series of energy schemes.
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Councillor Chris Chambers, the county council's cabinet member for transport strategy, planning and waste, said the new homes, if unaccompanied by funding for infrastructure, would set "alarm bells ringing" for residents.
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He said: “We’ve already seen from the new government that they are showing scant regard for Suffolk - with the approval of the Sunnica solar farm, the cancellation of our £500 million county deal and the withdrawal of Winter Fuel Payments.
"This cannot continue with huge pressure placed on the county with the new government’s housing targets, without the appropriate infrastructure to sit alongside it.
“In my own division, the villages of Bramford and Great Blakenham have grown considerably and many residents have commented that roads and other infrastructure only come after the homes, if it comes at all.
“This is simply not sustainable – infrastructure must be delivered in a timely manner.
"If residential developments emerge that are not included in local plans because of the new government’s policy, then the onus must be on the developer to confirm how infrastructure will be delivered.”
However, Sarah Adams, leader of the Labour group on Suffolk County Council, said: “The new Labour Government has been clear - to match the scale of the housing crisis, we have to be ambitious for our local communities.
“The Government has already begun the hard yards of planning reform, updating our system to ensure local families have the good quality, affordable homes and community infrastructure they deserve.
“The Prime Minister has said this will ensure those at the highest risk of homelessness – armed forces veterans, domestic abuse survivors, young care leavers – have the housing and therefore the security, they deserve. I fully support this pledge.
“Ignoring the housing crisis won’t make it go away.
"Suffolk County Council should work with the government to ensure local families in our county reap the benefits of these new ambitious reforms.”
READ MORE: Suffolk news
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