Hitchin MP Bim Afolami writes a regular weekend column for Nub News.

Read on for his latest article entitled: My campaign to protect our environment and build brownfield first 

You have told me how important it is that we protect our local environment and deliver brownfield development first. Over recent weeks, the Government has made a number of announcements which can help us to protect our local greenbelt, enhance our local environment and re-generate brownfield land.  

The duty to co-operate, which requires Councils to work to accommodate excess housing need from neighbouring areas, is to be abolished. Mandatory housing targets will be scrapped. And greater protections will be given to local greenbelt. 

Local Plans and planning decisions remain the responsibility of your local District Councillors and therefore constitutionally it is right that they will ultimately decide how to use these new powers to protect our area and our natural environment. However, I am working closely with Ministerial colleagues and our local Councillors to clarify exactly how we can apply them to North Hertfordshire and our recently adopted Local Plan. 

Delivering on the opportunity of brownfield land is also vitally important. Research from the Campaign for the Protection of Rural England shows that more than 1,800 homes could be delivered on brownfield sites in Council areas covering our constituency. The Government has made £60m available for Councils to unlock the potential of brownfield sites like these and deliver new homes and jobs locally – I have written to our Council Leaders asking them to work with me to make that happen. Let me know if you support my plan at www.bimafolami.co.uk/brownfield.  

Finally, I continue to work to deliver new ways to protect and enhance our natural environment. My campaign to extend the Chilterns Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) across North Hertfordshire continues and I have been hugely grateful for the support residents have given it. 

Taken alongside the Government's recently published Environment Improvement Plan, we have a real opportunity to make a lasting difference for our natural environment. Helping to reverse the decline in nature and protect our rare chalk streams, ancient woodlands and our beautiful rural area. 

Together, I know we can deliver the AONB extension and unlock the opportunities to make our area even better that it would bring. If you haven't already, you can back the campaign at www.bimafolami.co.uk/chilterns-aonb.