Maggie Throup, Member of Parliament for Erewash, has called on the Government to commit to pursuing a “Brownfield First” policy agenda in a parliamentary debate.

The debate called on the Government to protect the Greenbelt and focus building developments on Brownfield sites.

Maggie commented:

“I understand that there is a need to build more houses in this country, including in Erewash, but that should not come at the expense of the Greenbelt. We should be promoting developments on Brownfield sites.

“I welcome the Government’s initial steps in pursuing the ‘Brownfield first’ policy, however, more needs to be done. I am concerned that local authorities such as Erewash Borough Council are coming under increasing pressure to include Greenbelt in their core strategy. Instead, they should be focusing on Brownfield sites.

“Erewash has a proud industrial heritage, and there should be a planned approach to access those empty and derelict properties, with the option of converting them to residential properties.

“This has been successfully achieved at the Poplar pub on Bath Street, which has now been regenerated into housing and retail units. Maximising these kinds of opportunities first surely must be the strategy moving forward.

“It is clear that building on Brownfield sites plays an important role in regenerating communities across the country and I am urging the Government to do more to commit to this policy.”

The Government has announced several measures in pursuing the “Brownfield first” policy, including making £60 million available to councils to revive Brownfield sites as well as plans to end the so-called ‘duty to co-operate’.