George Freeman - I applauded the Localism Act of 2011 which gave local neighbourhoods and councils more control over local planning and new powers to create town plans.
That’s why I was appalled to learn that an unsustainable and unwanted housing development in the centre of Mattishall (who have their own Local Plan) which had already been refused by the Planning Inspector, was brought back again, albeit in a modified form. I recently joined local Councillors, campaigners and residents to speak up for the view of the community and was delighted that the Councillors overwhelmingly rejected this application.
Recently, I convened a cross party summit with local community and business leaders to discuss the need for a long term “Vision” for Dereham and its surrounding villages.
Norfolk is full of world-class businesses and opportunities in a whole variety of fields – engineering, science, energy, food and agriculture, wildlife, tourism and the arts – and Dereham is positioned at the heart of those opportunities, close to the A47 artery road. If we can get the growth in the right areas with a proper long term plan in place, we can create more jobs and a new cycle of growth in our local economy, which means a brighter future for all residents, and the next generation.