No comment on affordable housing reduction 'outrageous' - Howarth

5.00.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Wed 7th Jun 2006

David Howarth, MP for Cambridge, has described the Government's failure to comment on the reduction of required affordable housing by the government inspector from 50% to 40% as 'outrageous'.

Mr. Howarth asked the Department for Communities and Local Government to comment on the Government inspector's decision to reduce the proportion of affordable housing required in the Cambridge Local Plan from the 50% on applicable sites suggested by Cambridge City Council to 40%.

Mr. Howarth commented:

"It is outrageous that the Government is refusing to respond to the Inspector's decision. The role of the Inspector is to implement Government policy in this area and so the Government cannot simply refuse to respond in this way. Is it Government policy to reduce the supply of affordable housing in Cambridge?"

Councils no longer have the option to push forward with their original plans but have to make the amendments introduced by the Inspector.