Defence Secretary and Ranil Jayawardena, M.P. support brownfield regeneration in Hart District
On Thursday, Michael Fallon, M.P., Secretary of State for Defence visited North East Hampshire following an invitation from local Member of Parliament, Ranil Jayawardena, M.P., to champion brownfield regeneration in our area.
Mr Jayawardena and Hart District Council Leader, Cllr Stephen Parker, welcomed Mr Fallon to Hartland Park (Pyestock) to speak about the importance of brownfield regeneration and how the MOD can assist with projects like this.
Pyestock has been identified as a site suitable for around 1,500 homes with infrastructure such as a primary school, play facilities and local shops. This is particularly important to Hart District Council who are currently producing a Local Plan, the planning blueprint that will decide where new homes will be built.
Member of Parliament for North East Hampshire, Ranil Jayawardena, M.P., said: “Pyestock is exactly the sort of brownfield regeneration that should be supported. I am pleased that Hart are working together with HM Government to deliver homes on brownfield sites wherever possible, rather than building on green fields.”
Secretary of State, Michael Fallon, M.P., said: “It’s good to see sites like Pyestock being put forward for development. HM Government is ensuring that brownfield regeneration is central to local areas building new homes. A new ‘brownfield register’ is included in the Housing and Planning Bill, which will ensure that development is prioritised on brownfield sites rather than at the expense of the countryside.
“The MoD is committed to helping more people own their own homes. We have already released land for 22,000 houses in this parliament and we will always look carefully at opportunities to do more.”
Cllr. Parker said “We need to make sure that open land around Pyestock is not only protected from development but enhanced for public recreational use. There are opportunities to create a new community on the brownfield land between Fleet and Farnborough surrounded by a buffer of usable open land with public access. We are required by European law to provide such a country park, called SANGS, for the use of the local people and the protection of rare birds. As a Conservative councillor, I am delighted that I can use our friendly engagement with Minsters to push forward the interests of Hart District.”