Basingstoke MP Maria Miller has welcomed the announcement by the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government Eric Pickles of the Government’s plan to revoke the South East Regional Plan. The top-down approach of regional strategies from the last administration imposed centrally set building targets on communities, with Basingstoke allocated a target to build 945 new homes every year. The Order to revoke the South East Plan was laid in Parliament today, and will come into effect on 25 March 2013.

 Maria said: “This is very welcome news, and ensures that decision making on housing and planning is squarely returned to local authorities, with the active involvement of local communities. Rather than having a centrally imposed target, Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council can base their decisions on housebuilding on local need and other local factors, including constraints on development such as infrastructure and water availability.”