I visited the new housing development the Dell, in Grays, last Friday. It is a fabulous development with good quality, well designed houses, built in a nicely landscaped brownfield site.

What is even more amazing is the speed with which the development has gone up. It is only a year since planning permission was granted and people have moved into their new homes.

House building is by far the biggest challenge facing us today. We have failed to build enough houses for decades. The result is that we don't have enough houses.

Houses are less affordable than they have ever been and young people are having to live with their parents for far longer. Our children and grandchildren deserve to be able to buy their own homes.

I find it very disappointing that so many people object to the proposition that we need more homes. We will fail the younger generations unless we rise to the challenge.

However, new development needs to be good quality in space and design. Personally, I think it's a real shame that so many people who work in Thurrock drive over from Kent. more and better housing will mean people can live and work locally.

So, my congratulations to Keepmoat for delivering within a year. It contrasts strongly with Purfleet where we have yet to see a planning application, let alone spades in the ground.