Update for Norwich North: Build, build, build

Yesterday, the Prime Minister promised a ‘New Deal’ which will deliver new infrastructure across the UK, bringing a boost to the economy and improving skills.

 

The Prime Minister said: "To that end we will build build build. Build back better, build back greener, build back faster and to do that at the pace that this moment requires.”

 

Here in Norwich North, 11,300 jobs have been protected through the furlough scheme, but that scheme can not go on indefinitely. Business and jobs must be able to get back to normal, as far as possible. We should not be complacent, as the global number of Covid cases is still growing, but it is right that we begin to plan for what comes next. The support set-out will invest to help us to “level-up” in Norwich and across the country. 

 

The Prime Minister said that re-building after Covid is the time to tackle the big problems we all know are there, including transport, the environment and affordable housing.

 

I welcome this announcement. 

 

Improving transport in Norwich has always been a priority for me, I want better public transport to provide for more local jobs. I welcomed the recent £2 billion investment in cycling and walking, in recognition of the fact that these forms of transport will play a vital role in helping to get us all back to work safely.  The first stage of this £2 billion investment was the emergency active travel fund, intended to deliver new pop-up cycle lanes and other transport investments. Norfolk County Council has been allocated £1.9m in total from this fund and I look forward to seeing the improvements it will bring. 

 

As the Prime Minister said, we must support our environment by building back greener.  To protect the UK’s natural infrastructure, the Government will be planting over 75,000 acres of trees every year by 2025. The Prime Minister has now also pledged £40m to boost local conservation projects and I will closely follow updates on this. 

 

It can be difficult for young people here, and in many parts of the country, to get onto the housing ladder. New regulations will give greater freedom for buildings to change use without planning permission and create new homes. Under the new rules, existing commercial properties, including newly vacant shops, can be converted into residential housing more easily.

 

These changes, which are planned to come into effect by September, will support the construction industry to recover and speed up rebuilding.  

 

The new affordable homes programme will be a 1,500 unit pilot of ‘First Homes’ houses. These properties are sold to first time buyers at a 30% discount, giving key workers and first time buyers the opportunity to become a home owner. 

 

I am proud that the rail campaigning work I began for constituents eight years ago has delivered. My work with the Great Eastern Mainline Taskforce secured £1.5 billion of investment by Greater Anglia for our region. When the pandemic passes, commuters in Norwich will benefit from the intercity trains comprised of 12 carriages, new trains and a faster service into London.  To drive economic growth in all parts of the country, the Prime Minister has confirmed that a study will be conducted of future road, rail, air and cross-sea links across the UK. This is important because it’s about jobs for people here.

 

At the election our manifesto promised to build 40 new hospitals and we will deliver on that pledge, with details coming shortly.  That's good news, to make sure our NHS continues to be world-class after all the huge effort of doctors, nurses and others on the frontline recently.  Separately to this group of 40, I will be working over the coming months with the Norfolk and Norwich hospital to press for an upgrade to our A&E.   

 

I will make sure that the ambition we have in Norwich to "level up" is heard loud and proud in Westminster.

 

The full details of the 'New Deal' can be read here: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/build-build-build-prime-minister-announces-new-deal-for-britain