Have your say on national planning policy

Protecting quality farmland is one of the calls I hear most from constituents

Housebuilding is the issue that fills my postbag more than any other. I hear from people all the time who are unhappy about the scale of development locally, as well as people desperate for a house of their own.

Planning is decided locally, and so as an MP I don’t have a say on what development goes where. But what I can do is influence national planning policy - something I’ve been working hard to do with other Kent MPs.

We’ve successfully called for a new consultation on the government’s housebuilding strategy, and I want to make sure my constituents’ views are heard. Please let me know your opinions by filling in this survey, and I’ll make sure the Housing Secretary hears from us.

Please note, all responses are strictly confidential and only used to to look at overall trends.

Have your say on national planning policy

Current Planning policy questions
Your details

1. In order of importance to you, please rank the five main objectives in the government’s consultation from 1 to 5 (most to least important):

Questions	1	2	3	4	5
Engagement with the local community	1	2	3	4	5
The impact on local services	1	2	3	4	5
Environmental impact	1	2	3	4	5
The quality and design of newbuilds	1	2	3	4	5
More decisions being taken at a town or village level	1	2	3	4	5

2. In order of importance to you, please rank these other five main objectives in the government’s consultation from 1 to 5 (most to least important):

Questions	1	2	3	4	5
Protecting high quality farmland	1	2	3	4	5
Making sure that those who break planning rules face consequences	1	2	3	4	5
An increased focus on Social Rent	1	2	3	4	5
Making it harder for the Planning Inspector to override local decisions	1	2	3	4	5
Putting more housing in cities (like London)	1	2	3	4	5

3. What new infrastructure is most important to you when housing is built locally? (You can select more than one):

Healthcare (including GPs and dentists)

Roads

Schools and education

Leisure and amenity

Business and economic

Other…

4. In the past, do you feel that local development has come with the improvements mentioned in the last question?

Yes

Unsure or N/A

5. How should local development be made to benefit the environment? (You can select more than one):

Nature improvement/restoration

Safeguards from pollution

Community energy projects

More walking/cycleways

More electric vehicle charging points

This is not important to me

Other…

6. How should development contribute to levelling-up our local economy? (You can select more than one):

Better transport links

More commercial business space

More office space or start-up hubs

More Expansion of local childcare services/cycleways

Better digital infrastructure

This is not important to me

Other…

7. Is there any way that local development can help you feel safer in your community? (i.e. better street lighting or more CCTV)

8. Do you support plans to remove local councils’ mandatory housing targets? (This could result in fewer houses being built locally)

Strongly support

Support

Neither support nor oppose

Oppose

Strongly oppose

9. What best describes your current living situation:

I own my home (freehold or leasehold)

I rent my home privately

I rent my home from a housing association

I would prefer not to say

Other…

10. How easy do you find it to afford your current housing:

Very easy

Easy

Neither easy nor difficult

Difficult

Very difficult

I would prefer not to say

11. Do you feel your long-term housing needs are being met locally?

Yes

If no, what best describes why?

I cannot afford accommodation

I would like to buy a house but can’t get on the ladder

I/my family need a bigger house but can’t access one

I would like to downsize but there aren’t enough suitable properties

I/my family can’t find the right home to meet our needs

Other…

12. When new housing is built, what type of homes do you think should be prioritised? (You can select more than one)

First homes

Family homes

Retirement homes

Adapted homes or homes with care

Other…

13. When new housing is built, where would you prefer it to be concentrated? (You can select more than one)

In existing urban areas through increased housing density

On the edge of existing urban areas

In standalone developments (i.e. garden villages)

In rural areas

Spread evenly throughout the borough

Other…

Please select your age category

24 and under

25-45

46-65

65-80

81+

Gender

Male

Female

Other

Prefer not to say

Do you have a disability

Yes

News

It's unfair to reduce London’s housing targets whilst increasing Kent’s

Monday, 17 November, 2025

On Question Time last month, I was clear that Labour’s housing approach is wrong. Building on our countryside is not the answer to the housing problem.There are plans for over 20,000 new houses in Faversham and Mid Kent. It’ll change our corner of Kent forever.