IT’S a known fact we need extra housing to cope with the country’s needs.

The house building industry is awash with profits and able to afford the best professionals to take on councils and the public.

I believe that any new development should have a legacy tied into it. The public could vote on its preference. This way the developers are working with the public rather than ignoring them.

Legacies include local roads, schools, doctors, health centres, local sports facilities etc.

These house builders would be happy to contribute handsomely if these legacies smoothed public opinion.

Local councils should not be afraid to take on these developers to ensure future developments carry local levies which are paid immediately, once planning permission is granted.

Example; Sudbury Road development of 230 house worth average £300,000 each (average) pays 10 per cent local levy per unit (£30,000) equates to £6,900,000.

That’s a school.

Tony Shaughnessy

Halstead