One of the best things about living in rural Devon is the ease with which we can get out into the countryside and enjoy our stunning natural environment. From rolling hills, to species-rich forests, to remote coastal paths, we really do have a haven right on our doorsteps.

Last week, I was fortunate enough to be able to go on a local nature walk at Aylesbeare Common, along with representatives of environmental organisations including the RSPB, Woodland Trust, National Trust, and Devon Wildlife Trust. It was a beautiful morning – one of those in which you feel glad and grateful to be alive.

It struck me just how much work goes into protecting our natural environment and ensuring we safeguard it for future generations. For me, one of this generation’s responsibilities is to protect the countryside and ensure it does not fall victim to development in the wrong places.

I think most of us recognise that we need more infrastructure and new homes in many places across Devon. Indeed, the environmental charities told me that they need housing to enable them to employ young staff starting out in their careers. Yet new housing developments must not come at the expense of some of those areas with the richest biodiversity.

Here in East Devon, almost 57% of our land is a National Landscape (known previously as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty). This designation comes with some improved protections against overdevelopment. This also constrains planners who have fewer options for where they can designate for development.

We cannot simply expand rural towns and villages at the rate that the top-down targets imply. Indeed, towns are already sprawling towards neighbouring villages without the necessary infrastructure to support this growth.

This is why I am opposed to the Labour Government’s push to jack-up the top-down housing targets without first taking into account the need to plan land use in rural areas like ours. We need to balance competing needs with a land use framework. Increasing a target that East Devon is already struggling to meet is a pointless exercise if the Government does not address the underlying challenges.

I want to see a focus on creating balanced and sustainable communities, where we build homes, not just houses, and where these developments are matched with infrastructure improvements and greater protections - for agricultural land, recreational spaces and natural habitats.

Here in Devon the countryside sets our county apart. We must ensure that we protect it, both from overdevelopment and from the environmental vandalism of rogue companies – who care little for protecting nature.