I’m not an environmental expert, but I listen to those who are.
We can’t keep sprawling outwards forever. If we want to protect nature, we’ll need to make better use of what we’ve already developed — including brownfield sites and unused greenhouse land, where appropriate. And in some cases, we may need to build up, not out.
I opposed the proposal that would have put housing on the hospital field, not because I’m against development, but because we hadn’t looked properly at better alternatives.
Sustainable development isn’t just about where we build, but how. That means working with the landscape. It means supporting water capture, flood resilience, and infrastructure that offers better transport options.