After having had numerous letters, conversations and discussions with local residents and parish councillors back in January, I understood the depth of concerns over the proposals that had been put forward in the application for eight new poultry sheds with associated admin blocks, feed bins and ancillary development on land off Swangey Lane in Rocklands.

That is why I wrote to Breckland Council to highlight that I shared many of those concerns, and why I am delighted to hear that the application has now been withdrawn.

Since becoming MP for Mid Norfolk back in 2010, I have actively worked with local community groups and councillors to promote a more local and organic model of development – one that doesn’t allow aggressive out-of-town developers to abuse the planning system and keep on dumping large, inappropriate and unsustainable developments on our towns and villages. (For full details, please visit my website here)

However, planning doesn’t just mean houses. It can also mean local businesses and industry. While we want to see our local economy thriving, we need to ensure that growth is done positively, rather than at the expense of the rural way of life that we all hold so dear – and which makes Mid Norfolk such a wonderful place to live, work and visit!

I am pleased that sense has prevailed in this instance and stand ready to support my constituents when large scale or unsustainable developments are put forward.

To read more about my submission to Breckland with regards to this application, please click here.