This vital area of policy is something I am committed to and passionate about in the longterm.
Since working as a graduate administrator in the Plymouth City Council Homelessness Team back in 2003, I've been interested in the role housing can play in dealing with a range of issues in society. Having lived in London as a private renter for eleven years and only getting onto the housing ladder here in Plymouth at the age of 39, I am also acutely aware of the issues around affordable housing for local people here in the South West. All that said, I also recognise the importance of the tourism industry to our local economy and the sensitivities around second homes and holiday lets.
Through my role as Chair of Planning Committee (2021-2022) and Cabinet Member for Strategic Planning, Homes and Communities (2022- ) I have been working to promote the right homes in the right places. Being a member of the Plymouth and South West Devon Joint Local Plan Board alongside colleagues from the South Hams and West Devon and Vice Chair of the Devon Housing Taskforce has also provided an opportunity to ensure we have a joined up approach to planning and homes across the three local Authorities.
