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Making the case for well planned, higher density, mixed use urban development: meeting housing needs, improving quality of life and protecting the environment.

Governments and policy-makers are planning for major development in the Thames Gateway. CPRE's report show how we can meet housing needs and deliver a high-quality built environment in the Thames Gateway, while protecting and enhancing the landscape. The report addresses significant concerns across a wide range of public policy issues, including urban centre management, landscape protection and natural resources management.

The development of the Thames Gateway offers an unprecedented opportunity to accommodate on brownfield land much of the housing needs and relieve the pressure for urban expansion on greenfields across southeastern England. If done properly, the development could create a high-quality urban residential environment while protecting and enhancing the surrounding countryside. This report makes recommendations for optimising the area's urban capacity and long-term attractiveness as a place to live and work.

The Milton Keynes and the South Midlands sub-region is one of four growth areas proposed in the Government's Sustainable Communities Plan, launched in February 2003. A revised draft plan, incorporating proposed changes was published in October 2004. The changes take into account comments contained in the report of the independent Panel following the Public Examination in March/April 2004. Our response identifies key concerns — including a lack of commitment to affordable housing, no targets for the use of brownfield land, threats to the Green Belt, no proper environmental impact assessment and a focus on road-building as opposed to alternative travel options.