AS the government was gearing up for the publication of this week’s housing white paper, housing matters have also been to the fore in my constituency engagements.

I was pleased to view Radian’s affordable homes on the new Riverdown Park estate and hear about their scheme to assist tenants who want to participate in the community, learn new skills or access support from elsewhere.

I also met a delegation of representatives from twelve of Salisbury’s most respected letting agents to talk about the government’s current consultation on banning fees being charged to tenants. Responsible agencies who charge proportionate fees for which they offer a genuine service are worried that they may be penalised for the conduct of unscrupulous lettings agents. I will be taking up their concerns in Westminster and hope that a compromise can be found that both protects tenants and is fair to agents whose practices are already exemplary.

The housing white paper emphasises greater security for tenants, while also renewing and elaborating upon two existing pledges – to increase the supply of new housing and to do so without impinging upon the green belt and the protection it enjoys.

These are two priorities which are never far from my mind during my weekly advice surgeries.

Seldom does a week go by when I do not see one or more local families desperate to access affordable housing – usually citing high rents and low wages. The housing shortage is real and the average house price in Salisbury is almost 10 times the average wage. Therefore more affordable homes are needed locally to make it possible for people who grew up here to stay local and bring up their own families here.

By the same token, nearly every development on a scale that would include affordable housing, whether it be a small close of a few homes or a large estate prompts opposition, arising from equally understandable fear of overdevelopment.

From my perspective, saying no to every development is not an option. That is why local plans, which give communities the chance to have a say on where and how future development is managed are so valuable. Only if we start with an acceptance that more homes are needed can we have a sensible dialogue about what kind of homes they should be, where they should go and how we ensure our roads, schools and other infrastructure are up to the task.

I was concerned to read reports of ever-increasing flying out of Old Sarum, as I know that many people living in close proximity to the airfield are already finding the stepped-up activity over the last year hard to tolerate. I will be seeking a meeting on this as a matter of urgency.