There are too many young people in my constituency who cannot get on the housing ladder. As we increasingly move towards an ageing population, it will be incredibly important that these communities are sustainable, that young people are able to live near their parents, and that they are able to send their own children to good schools locally. I really welcome the fact that we are making affordable housing a central part of what we are doing as a Government, because without that, communities such as South Normanton, Clowne, Shirebrook and Bolsover will not be sustainable over the coming years. We already have fantastic communities in my constituency, but our challenge is to build a better Bolsover where every young person can fulfil their potential to get a good job locally and buy their own home.
During the 2019 General Election, I campaigned for more affordable housing for people across the Bolsover constituency. That's why I was delighted that the Government launched a new First Homes Scheme, which provides at least a 30% discount for first-time buyers who are from the surrounding area or a key worker, in Shirebrook. I will continue to support the Government, Bolsover District Council, and Keepmoat Homes in the rollout of this project to help ensure local residents can get on the housing ladder.
Ultimately, for too many people home ownership has been a pipe dream, so I will keep working hard to make sure that more and more people in our area are able to own their own home.
