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The Tories are putting Labour-held constituencies in Northumberland at risk of a housing free-for-all following the withdrawal of a key planning document, an MP has claimed.

In July, Northumberland County Council scrapped its local plan core strategy - which spells out how land will be used for new homes and jobs.

The Conservatives claimed the target to build more than 26,000 new homes in the county by 2031, set under the previous Labour administration, was too high.

But Labour councillors argued that the planning document took years to put in place and the Tories were playing “naked politics”.

(Image: Newcastle Chronicle)

Four months on, Blyth Valley MP Ronnie Campbell raised his concerns in the House of Commons that axing the core strategy had put his constituency and nearby Wansbeck at risk of over-development.

“We had a core strategy that was put through by the previous Labour council before the elections in May this year,” the Labour MP said.

“The plan took six years, and we got it in place, but then the Conservatives got in power and scrapped it. It is now a free-for-all in Northumberland and people can build anywhere they want.

“When the Conservatives said that they were going to build so many houses we asked the question and, lo and behold, they are only going to build them on the green belt areas in my constituency and in that of Wansbeck MP Ian Lavery. As for Berwick, Alnwick, Hexham or Ponteland, they are not going to build on the green belt there, just on the green belt in our constituencies.”

Earlier this month, the Government threatened to intervene in council’s housebuilding plans over its failure to make progress with its local plan.

It was one of 15 local authorities in the UK put “on notice” by communities secretary Sajid Javid, who said his “patience had run out” with councils who had not yet adopted the document.

Mr Campbell said: “It is a disgrace for the county council. What I want to see is for the core strategy to be brought back and for everyone to take their fair share of the houses, not just Blyth and Wansbeck.”

(Image: Newcastle Chronicle)

But council leader Peter Jackson, who is also leader of the Tories, hit back at Mr Campbell and said his claims were untrue.

“We removed Labour’s plan to build 26,000 new houses in Northumberland and protect the green belt which Labour wanted to build on,” he said.

“Northumberland Conservatives are working hard to put together a better, more appropriate core strategy for Northumberland and Ronnie can see it along with everyone else when it’s ready.”