Tory MPs in Kent have been warned that the Government's controversial housing reforms could harm the electoral prospects of Kent County Council's (KCC) Conservatives in May.

A letter sent to 16 MPs from KCC leader Roger Gough (Con), on behalf of his 64-strong group, has expressed major concerns to sweeping changes to the way the planning system is run by councils.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson says more construction is needed to stimulate the economy, pledging to "build, build, build" as part of the Covid-recovery. The aim is to speed up house building and create a simplified planning system.

However, Cllr Gough says that imposing "arbitrary" housing targets would "threaten the quality of life" for nearly 1.6 million people who live in Kent.

In a leaked letter sent to MPs last month, he said: “They also pose a grave threat to Conservative party support in future county, district and general elections.

"It is hard to exaggerate the anger that this is causing among many of the party’s traditional supporters and, if this policy is continued, it will cost us all dearly."

The scathing document underlines anxieties around a new Whitehall formula that would be used to calculate the number of new homes in each district, describing it as a "mutant algorithm".

Under the new method, Kent would see a significant rise in the number of houses that need to be delivered each year, increasing from 10,411 to 13,372, marking a growth of 31.9%.

It would mean a big jump in housing targets for several areas, including a rise of 115% in Dover, 86% in Dartford and 71% in Tonbridge and Malling. These goals have been described as "unrealistic".

At Monday's KCC cabinet meeting, Cllr Mike Whiting (Con), cabinet member for economic development, said developers were to blame for delays to house building not local authorities.

Cllr Whiting said: "Housing delivery is down to developers to build houses.

"If they would only build those houses for which they have been consented by our district colleagues the Government would be much nearer its 300,000-a-year target.

"The planning consents are given, but unfortunately the builders choose not to build out. Therein lies the problem."

At the meeting Cllr Sue Chandler (Con), KCC's portfolio holder for children's services, said she had "enormous concerns" about the reduced level of public engagement.

Last month, KCC's Labour Group leader Dara Farrell expressed his worries and warned: "This white paper will give more power to developers and take powers away from local authorities and local people."

As well as the KCC election next year, there will be two other elections in Kent: Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells, due to have been held last year, were postponed because of the coronavirus crisis. In addition, Kent's police and crime commissioner elections are due to take place in seven months' time.

People can respond to the Government's white paper on the proposed reforms by clicking here by Thursday, October 29.

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