Shadow housing minister Grant Shapps has defended the Conservative Party's localism policy, claiming it actually represents true democracy.
Speaking at today's Housing Market Intelligence conference Shapps said that the incentive scheme being attached to the plans - whereby local authorities are given all the council tax from new homes plus 100% of the tax again - will mean local areas will want to attract new homes to their region.
Shapps said that in his own area plans to build 10,000 homes were very unpopular because at the same time services were being run down at the local hospital and services to the local area reduced. He said that he was against the homes for that reason.
"Under my plans if the local authority built the 10,000 homes they would receive £100 million which would change me from a nimby to a yimby - yes in my back yard," he said. "Anyone aginst the plans would be against improving local services."
Source: Housebuilder
See Also: Property News (6680)
Date Published: 13 October 2009
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