Push to get city extra funding for housing

PLYMOUTH’S MPs and the city council’s leader have come together to lobby the Government for additional funding for much needed housing in the city.

- KATIE TIMMS

With more than 7,000 households in Plymouth on the housing register, the need massively outweighs the supply. As the city continues to grow and with thousands of new jobs being created in the next few years, including new jobs at the Plymouth and South Devon Freeport and the expanded Devonport naval base, it is expected that even more people will need a home.

Whilst Plymouth is one of 20 areas in the UK that is considered a ‘priority’ by Homes England, investment is needed to ensure that plans to push forward the city’s plans for housing can be delivered. In particular, plans to increase the number of new homes in the city centre.

Following a question raised in the House of Commons by South West Devon MP Rebecca Smith, Matthew Pennycook MP (Minister of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government), agreed to meet with Conservative MP Ms Smith and Plymouth’s two Labour MPs, Luke Pollard and Fred Thomas, along with council leader Tudor Evans, to discuss the national effort required to deliver the housing needed.