Callum’s Column: Building futures, not just houses

I know some residents feel instinctively nervous about development in their area. I understand those concerns, because I share the love people feel for where they live. But we cannot ignore the reality facing young people and families across our county. Too many find it ever more difficult to stay close to where they grew up, to put down roots, and to own a home of their own. If we care about the housing crisis, we have to find a way to make it easier to get on the property ladder.

I also want to say something personal. I live in a rural part of our constituency. I shop regularly at our wonderful local farm shops, and I take every opportunity I can to get out into the Buckinghamshire countryside. The fields, footpaths and villages we treasure are not abstract to me – they are part of my daily life and where I love returning to after a long week in Westminster. I’m deeply committed to preserving what makes our neighbourhood special, and I strongly believe that homes can be built in a way that strengthens and unites local communities.

So, why am I talking about housing again? Last week, Buckinghamshire Council entered the latest stage of the Local Plan-making process, inviting feedback on sites it has identified to deliver on the housing targets that the Government set in late 2024. Accordingly, this debate has returned to the forefront. Unfortunately, some commentary has generated more heat than light.

Claims from the Council’s leadership that the figure of 95,000 homes represents entirely new development are simply wrong. Thousands of those homes have already been built or have planning permission. We should acknowledge that progress, not misrepresent it as a sudden, uncontrolled expansion.

It’s also worth noting that Buckinghamshire Council hasn’t shared everything with residents. Housing Minister Matthew Pennycook recently wrote to the council to express serious concerns about their approach. He warned: “In light of the Council’s history of poor performance with plan-making, including failure to adhere to previous versions of your LDS (Local Development Scheme), I am concerned there is significant risk that the Council could once again fail to meet its own milestones.” He described their approach as “piecemeal,” with fewer guarantees that they will make the most of Buckinghamshire’s potential.

I have also seen confusion around the term “grey belt.” Let me be clear. Grey belt is not rolling countryside or productive farmland. It refers to land that contributes little to agriculture or landscape character, often scrubland or neglected sites with limited environmental value. We must protect our genuine green spaces – the farmland, woodlands and open views that define our rural communities. But we should not pretend that every patch of underused land holds the same value.

Housebuilding, however, must go hand in hand with infrastructure. We must not simply build houses; we must build places. That means securing the investment that gives areas their character and supports families as they grow – school places, safe roads, reliable public transport, local health centres, sports facilities, pubs and shops. Homes without infrastructure create strain. Homes with infrastructure create thriving, neighbourly communities.

The claim that there is “no money” for infrastructure does not stand up to scrutiny. Funding for road repairs has increased. A new hospital in Milton Keynes will serve north Buckinghamshire, as well as the city itself. Education funding has risen nationally. Buckinghamshire Council itself has received a significant uplift in core funding and now benefits from multi-year settlements to support better planning. Whilst I won’t pretend that there is a ‘magic money tree’ of unlimited resources, we can and must use this increased funding effectively and strategically.

Where more investment is required, I will campaign vigorously for it in Westminster. If Buckinghamshire Council leader, Cllr Broadbent, is prepared to work with me in good faith, I stand ready to work constructively with him. Our residents expect responsible, grown-up leadership rooted in respect for one another and for the places we serve. Of course, we won’t agree on every detail, but we share a responsibility to plan for Buckinghamshire’s future.

Ultimately, this comes down to aspiration – and to fairness. I am unapologetically pro-aspiration. Owning a home remains one of the strongest expressions of security, stability and opportunity. And as it stands, far too many people feel locked out of that dream.

Put simply: if you work hard, act responsibly, and save your cash – you deserve to be able to afford somewhere of your own. This is why I will not accept a future where home ownership in the county we love becomes the preserve of a fortunate minority.

Previous article on housing (Feb '25) here: Callum’s Column: Why we need more homes locally – and why it's time to act now