David Ruffley is launching a survey of Parish Councils in the St Edmundsbury area of his constituency seeking their views on future development in their villages. This is to coincide with the St Edmundsbury Borough Council consultations on their Local Development Framework- which will replace the adopted Local Plan in 2016.

David is keen to know what the villages want in terms of future development and whether they agree with the category into which they have been placed in the consultations- either Service Centre or Infill Village.

David has also written to Geoff Rivers, Chief Executive of St Edmundsbury Borough Council, asking him to provide the data on which these categories were based.

David said: 'I am launching my survey of Parish Councils now so that I will be well equipped at each stage of the consultations on the Local Development Framework to lobby on behalf of my rural constituents. This is a very long term exercise but as the local MP I need to know how much- or how little- each village wishes to expand.

'The Government's requirement for 8,000 new homes throughout St Edmundsbury by 2031 means that many villages will have to expand, but we need to ensure this development is in the right place.

'I am also asking what additional infrastructure villages see as essential if more housing is built. It's no good building more houses if the current infrastructure isn't capable of sufficient expansion or it there aren't going to be any extra village services- such as upgraded roads and shops- to serve the residents.'