Nick Gibb MP met Housing Minister Gavin Barwell MP, together with Arun District Councillor Ricky Bower, Councillor John Charles, Arun Planning Officer Karl Roberts and chartered surveyor and Yapton resident, Vicky Newman, to discuss Arun District Council's Local Plan. Vicky Newman pointed out the challenge of finding locations for new homes when the Arun district was hemmed in by the South Downs National Park to the north and by the sea to the south.
Nick Gibb said, "People in Bognor Regis and Littlehampton are very concerned about the number of speculative house building applications that are being submitted by house building companies while the Local Plan is still to be confirmed.
"We all support plans for more houses to help ensure people are able to buy a home and to help young people onto the property ladder. We need to ensure that the location of those new homes is planned in a way that is sustainable and which ensures that grade A agricultural land is protected and strategic gaps are maintained."
Housing minister Gavin Barwell said that national planning policy was designed to protect both strategic gaps and prime agricultural land.
Photo in Portcullis House, House of Commons: From back left, Karl Roberts, Cllr Ricky Bower, Cllr John Charles. Front left, Housing Minister Gavin Barwell MP, Nick Gibb MP, Vicky Newman