Today in Prime Minister’s Questions, Filton and Bradley Stoke MP Jack Lopresti showed his support for the Great Western Freeport and pressed the Prime Minister on housebuilding. With data showing the median house price in Filton and Bradley Stoke is nearly 9 times earnings, building more houses is crucial to getting more young people onto the housing ladder.
If successful, the Great Western Freeport has the potential to create tens of thousands of skilled jobs and put rocket boosters under the region’s economy. Jack has been very supportive of the bid and has written to the Chancellor to press for its selection in the Budget on 3rd March. If successful, the freeport would stimulate funding for infrastructure improvements to level up local communities and increase employment opportunities.
Jack asked the Prime Minister:
My Right Honourable Friend will recall from his visit in 2019 that the Port of Bristol will make an excellent location for a Great Western Freeport, and the West of England Mayor Tim Bowles has submitted a bid which could create 50,000 jobs in the region.
Will the Prime Minister back our bid and agree with me that with house prices in the West of England sitting at nine times average earnings, we need a home-building revolution to provide much more affordable housing for our young people as we build back better?
Responding, the Prime Minister Boris Johnson said:
My Honourable Friend is absolutely right in what he says about home-building and the need for housing across the country, because you sometimes hear that this is a problem mainly in London and the South East - not at all. This is a problem across the country as he rightly says.
I want to thank Tim Bowles, Mayor of the West of England, for everything that he has done as he stands down. We intend to help build on his legacy with a massive homebuilding and home ownership program across the country.
Commenting, Jack Lopresti MP said:
I’m really pleased to support the Great Western Freeport and to bring our bid to the Prime Minister’s attention in the House of Commons today. The Prime Minister has huge enthusiasm for housebuilding, which is absolutely key for bringing down house prices and creating more affordable homes, so more of our young people can take their first step on the housing ladder.
To watch Jack's question, click here.
