On Friday, I caller in at Bagnall heights to meet the new residents and owners.  I wanted to see first hand the quality of the new buildings and grounds and meet the people that live there. Bagnall Heights is a high quality design residential development which has been designed specifically for people who are over 55.  You could believe you were in a luxury golf hotel except that you have a quality housing association. The managed complex is designed to provide secure, maintained accommodation for those entering their retirement. It has all the facilities to hand which will allow people to live long and healthy independent lives, where otherwise.

It’s also a good development for Bagnall, which will have a number of new residents, who I hope will be at the heart of the village community. Indeed some have moved from the village, vacating their properties for incomers, who will bring added interests and a new lease of life for the area. Bus services will get more passengers – making the routes more viable. I also hope that resident will become active in the parish council and other local initiatives.

The other plus is that where once we had a derelict hospital building and complaints of vandalism, now we have a reinvigorated community.  I am glad that I was able to work behind the scenes to help bring this about. I think that Bagnall Heights is an example of getting the right sort of housing for the local area. Recently I have given a great deal of attention to housing policy. We need a greater supply of affordable homes right across the constituency – and for all age groups and household types. New and renovated homes also need to be environmentally friendly.

This week I am chairing a regional meeting in north Staffordshire which is looking at how we can plan for sustainable homes in the West Midlands.  It is organised by Sustainability West Midlands and brings together some of the best people who are working on this agenda.  The challenge is there:  not only are there more people who want a home, but the types of homes and communities that people want to live in are changing too.  I know how difficult it can be for many constituents to afford a new home. And at the same time, climate change means that we have to limit what we build so as not to harm future generations.

I would like to see local architects, planning authorities and building companies working together to build world class homes here in the constituency.  World class means affordable, environmentally friendly and relevant – maybe a new retirement village or apartments for those starting out on the housing ladder. Examples from around the country show this is possible, and I would like to see us working towards it here in North Staffordshire.

If you live in Stoke-on-Trent North and would like to comment, then please be in touch.