AN MP and council leader have written to the Government saying that house-building targets in Rossendale are ‘too high’.

Around 5,000 homes are expected to be built in the borough in the next 15 years as part of the Government’s target of building one million new homes by 2020.

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Rossendale Borough Council leader Alyson Barnes and the borough’s MP Jake Berry have now written to the housing minister Gavin Barwell saying this target may not be viable.

The letter said if the borough was to maximise land available for housing, a number of employment sites would have to be lost.

Mr Berry and Cllr Barnes also said there were areas of flood risk and the fact the borough was a series of valleys would make it physically difficult to build homes.

Mr Berry said: “Alison and I may have different views on many issues but one thing that we both agree on is that the number of houses we are being asked to build in Rossendale is too high.

“Current plans do not take into account Rossendale’s unique valley topography as well as significant areas of flood risk.

“That’s why we have sent a letter to the housing minister with our concerns and I also raised the matter with the secretary of state for local government in the House of Commons.”

Cllr Barnes highlighted the issue to the Government several months ago and Mr Berry got on board to help strengthen the argument.

The Labour leader said: “There is little space at the moment for these homes and we are just being told to build, build, build.

“Not everywhere in the country can just build houses here, there and everywhere.”