11 June 2010 – Keith Taylor MEP calls for renewed Empty Homes Strategy for Winchester District before massive new housing estate is considered
Councillors are meeting on Monday (14th June) to decide whether or not to approve plans for Barton Farm, a proposed 2000-home development in-filling the northern edge of Winchester. Ahead of the meeting, the region’s new MEP has stepped in to demand a review of housing strategy.
South East Green MEP Keith Taylor, who recently took over from Caroline Lucas in the European Parliament (1), said:
“The coalition government has clearly signalled that the regional housing allocation for the South East is to be scrapped. It therefore makes little sense that the Council is considering approval for the Barton Farm development, given the target it was designed to meet will shortly be swept away.
“It is nothing short of scandalous that, because of a skewed funding system, Winchester City Council has dropped its Empty Homes Strategy. We know that, while the Council builds only around 100 new affordable homes per year, over three times that number are standing empty.
“It is even more shocking that the Council has not yet taken any action to retro-fit its own housing stock with insulation and energy efficiency features, even though we know that these measures reduce energy bills – and carbon emissions.
“This is especially important, given that emissions from housing account for just over 30 per cent of all carbon dioxide emissions in the UK.”
In a detailed consultation submission on Barton Farm to Winchester City Council (2), Keith Taylor MEP urges the Council to:
- Provide affordable housing – but using brownfield sites and existing homes first, and only greenfield sites as an absolute last resort
- Conserve the Barton Farm site as a ‘green lung’ for Winchester, warning that to develop it would be to lose it as open space for ever
- Launch a programme of retro-fitting its own housing stock to reduce climate change emissions.
Notes to Editors
1) Keith Taylor succeeded Caroline Lucas as Green MEP for the South East region of England on 3rd June 2010. The European Parliament took note of Caroline Lucas’ election as MP on 18 May 2010. Caroline was a list candidate for the Green Party and in view of this, her seat is filled in accordance with regulations 82-85 of the European Parliamentary Elections Regulations 2004 by Keith Taylor.
2) The Council must state its own position on Barton Farm before the appeal inquiry to be held in September 2010. The meeting of the Planning Development Control Committee is on 14 June 2010, 1pm, United Reform Church, Jewry Street, Winchester. Full details: http://www.winchester.gov.uk/Housing/Planning/General.asp?id=SX9452-A7853725&cat=7009
The consultation response by Keith Taylor MEP is here: http://www.keithtaylormep.org.uk/2010/06/11/objection-to-barton-farm/
