Telford MP Lucy Allan calls for crackdown on rogue developers

Ms Allan said that although thousands of new houses were being built in the town, there were many new homeowners facing unfinished communal areas, bad roads, and other issues.

She has now pressed Sajid Javid, Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, on what he is doing to strengthen the rights of those buying the new properties.

Speaking in parliament, Ms Allan said: "Telford is a rapidly growing new town in which thousands of new homes are built every year, but for too many new-build homeowners, the reality is unfinished communal areas, unadopted roads, failure to comply with section 106, developers failing to take responsibility and the local council passing the buck.

"What will the Secretary of State do to strengthen the rights of new-build homeowners?"

The minister responded by saying a consultation on the issue has been launched by the government.

Mr Javid said: "She is absolutely right to raise that issue and to emphasise the need for infrastructure alongside new housing. I know that she welcomes the housing infrastructure fund.

"In terms of holding developers to their commitments, I hope that she will contribute to our consultation on that topic, which was launched just this week."

Ms Allan has also called on Telford to lead the way in solving the housing crisis.

"It is clear that new towns have an important role to play in Britain’s future and in the lives of the next generation seeking to build a better life," she said.

Ms Allan has also spoken about the need for a long-term plan to look after some of Telford's housing estates.

She said: "Some parts of the original New Town housing estates, built rapidly and often poorly designed, such Woodside and Sutton Hill are now in a state of neglect and disrepair. Whilst some owner-occupied properties are well looked after, others owned by rogue private landlords are in a state of decay and not fit for habitation.

"We need a long-term plan for regenerating these estates, some homes will not last another 10 years. We must start now to determine how this regeneration can be funded.

"On our new build estates such as Lawley Village, infrastructure and maintenance of communal areas is not keeping pace with development. Residents pay a maintenance fee, but as the developers sometimes fail to finish a phase, maintenance is not always carried out."

In January she spoke with Prime Minister Theresa May to tighten legislation regarding new housing estates.

Mrs May said: "We recognise the concerns she raised.

"We are committed to legislating with regards to the unfair practices she has identified, because it's only fair that freeholders should have the same right as leaseholders to challenge the service charges that they are being submitted to."