03 Jun 2026
Harpenden MP Victoria Collins has challenged Sir Keir Starmer at Prime Minister’s Questions over top-down housing targets that are leaving our local councils and communities powerless, without the affordable homes or services we need, while failing to protect our precious landscapes.
Victoria warned that the Government is forcing large-scale development onto local communities without the roads, schools, GP surgeries and other infrastructure needed to support it. All while a median new build home was over £750,000 last year in Harpenden.
She pushed Keir Starmer on his Government’s current approach which leaves councils and residents with too little say over local decisions which will shape their local area for decades to come. These top-down targets are not delivering the affordable homes and services we need on precious local landscapes.
Before St Albans council has even finalised one Local Plan, they will have to start a new process, which will almost double the housing numbers.
She warned that local communities are being asked to absorb new houses without the guarantees from the government legislation on infrastructure, limited public transport and rising housing costs. This is also happening in light of nearby national infrastructure strains such as Luton Airport expansion. During PMQs, Victoria called on the Prime Minister to urgently review the targets and visit Harpenden to see firsthand the impact they could have on local communities.
Victoria said: “Many local people understand that we need the right homes in the right place, but they need to work for our communities. These unsustainable top-down targets from the Government or proposed planning developments simply fail to deliver that and are about to almost double in our local area.
“Meanwhile a median new build in Harpenden last year was over £750,000, even at the Government’s definition of ‘affordable’ (20 per cent lower) that’s absolutely not what most people would call affordable. No wonder sixth former Hannah told me she doesn’t dream of ever being able to afford a home in Harpenden.
“Right now, many towns and villages are being asked to sacrifice precious landscapes and absorb significant levels of development without the guarantees from the Government for truly affordable homes, with that roads, public transport, healthcare and school places are needed to support it.
“We must ensure the houses we build are what the community needs, not arbitrary targets handed down from the Government. Westminster must give councils and communities the power to shape sustainable growth that works for both current and future residents.”
