Henry Smith MP has spoken out in favour of the rights of residents in a House of Commons debate on the effect of housing developments on local communities in West Sussex (on Monday, 7th September).

Commenting after the debate, Henry said;

“The proposals by Homes England to build some 10,000 housing units on green fields to the west of Ifield are not in the interests of Crawley residents.

“In addition to the damage such a development would cause to the environment, the extra pressures the new properties would place on local infrastructure would have an adverse effect. Much of the area is prone to flooding too.

“While no one can deny the importance of building new homes, this cannot be done in the harmful way currently being put forward.

“I will continue to raise the objections of Crawley residents to these proposals.”

Henry Smith, Member of Parliament for Crawley, said during the debate;

“I congratulate my hon. Friend on securing this important Adjournment debate. The ancient parish of Ifield just outside Crawley borough is facing the threat of some 10,000 houses in unsustainable circumstances on the floodplain. Would he agree that it is very important that while we should provide additional housing for future generations in West Sussex, we must have the environment paramount in our considerations?​

Andrew Griffith, Member of Parliament for Arundel & South Downs, responded;

“I absolutely agree with my hon. Friend on that. I shall come to the point about the provision in the planning system for different landscapes, including floodplains, which, as we know, West Sussex has in abundance.”