NEW figures showing housebuilding in Rugby is back to pre-pandemic levels – at more than twice the rate of the national average – strengthen the case for more local services, says the town’s MP.
Statistics from the National House Building Council (NHBC) show that in the past three years nearly 1,500 new homes were registered in the Rugby constituency, over double the national constituency average.
The figures also demonstrate that housebuilding and construction in Rugby has returned to near pre-pandemic levels – driven by new developments at Houlton and in the north of the town at Rugby Gateway and Coton.
Mark Pawsey MP welcomed the figures, and said they make the case for additional services even stronger.
He said: “It is good news that the construction industry and housebuilding have recovered from the pandemic and we are once again delivering the homes which local families need. There has been a historic shortage of new homes and I am delighted that Rugby is playing its part in delivering these.
“However, I fully understand and agree with residents who have concerns about the expansion of our town and the additional pressure this places on our public services. That is why it is vital for new housing to be delivered alongside the right infrastructure, as it has been at Houlton.
“It also makes the case for securing new investment into our public services much greater and this is a case I will continue to make to local health providers and to my colleagues in Government.”
Mr Pawsey has raised the need for additional services – including A&E – at the Hospital of St Cross with Government ministers, and earlier this year wrote to the Chair of Coventry and Warwickshire Clinical Commissioning Group to urge for greater investment in Rugby.
He added: “Houlton in particular is a great example of how housing can be delivered at scale with the appropriate infrastructure and services, such as the new Houlton School which welcomed its first cohort of pupils last month.
“More people living in Rugby will also improve our local economy and provide valuable support to Rugby’s high street retailers and other businesses.”
