WE have seen many letters recently about too many houses inappropriately placed in our rural surroundings.

We may have to accept these but we are also being sold a pup, both on energy and housing priorities, right across the board.

We need to challenge the elected architects of this duff thinking, as well as getting communities convincingly consulted, and empowered with real ownership of decision making.

Given what we know about the near energy future, any thoughtful housing plan would insist on south facing, fully insulated and sustainable dwellings capable of generating their own electricity.

Houses for future living and not just present profit.

Instead houses are seen as growth barometers, for politicians needing to satisfy the unfettered needs of the financial markets and election timescales.

Their solution is to pass the buck to hedge fund developers, who are understandably programmed to “stack em tight, build em cheap, and sell em for fat margins.”

Now we have the new promise of cheaper homes for the under 40s, with future regulations like the zero-carbon homes standard not applying.

Local houses not fit for purpose, both for now and the future, but we have to be thankful they’re ours.

Michael T Parker

Sedgeberrow