Proposals for greenfield housing development that could cover an area of countryside bigger than Birmingham, Coventry and Wolverhampton combined{1} - more than 431 square kilometres (166 square miles) - are contained in local authority plans.{2}

This is the shock finding from CPRE's{3} latest survey of existing and emerging county Structure Plans,{4} the strategic plans which set the scale of growth in housing over most of rural England.

Releasing the findings, Kate Gordon, CPRE's national Planning Officer, said:

'Developers' preference for building on greenfield sites, assisted by local authorities' continued willingness to allocate such sites, is squandering scarce land. The result will be continuing unnecessary loss of countryside to urban sprawl and less investment in urban renewal.'

Kate Gordon continued:

'On the eve of John Prescott's announcement on the Communities Plan,{5} the evidence shows that developers and local authorities are still ignoring Government policies designed to achieve an urban renaissance by prioritising development of derelict urban land and buildings over use of greenfield sites.'{6}

The continuing pressure for greenfield housing comes at a time when there are more than three quarters of a million empty homes in England{7}, and at least 66,000 hectares of previously developed land and buildings is crying out for regeneration{8}. In contrast, developers and local authorities are still wasting greenfield land. In recent years the average density of new housing has been around 25 dwellings per hectare{9} - well below the minimum 30 per hectare set out in national planning guidance.{10}

CPRE is calling for:

• an increase in the national target for new housing using recycled urban land and buildings from 60% to at least 75%;{11}
• more resources and commitment for Government Regional Offices to enforce national planning policies on the provision of new housing set out in PPG3 Housing; and
• extension of the Government's Density Direction,{12} currently confined to the South East and London, to the whole country.

Kate Gordon concluded:

'Three years on from the Urban White Paper,{13} the threat to the countryside from urban sprawl is as strong as ever. If the Government is serious about protecting the countryside it needs to do more to reduce development of greenfield sites. It also needs to redouble its commitment to securing better use of land and promoting urban renaissance. That way we can meet genuine housing need and give real protection to the countryside.'

- END -

NOTES FOR EDITORS

1. Area of Birmingham = 26,500 hectares. Area of Coventry = 9,700 hectares. Area of Wolverhampton = 6,900 hectares. (Regional Trends, TSO, 2001). Analysis of NLUD data and country structure plans suggests around 44,000 hectares is at risk from greenfield development. See Table attached and Note 8 below.

2. Structure Plans, produced by county councils and some unitary authorities, cover most of rural England. They set the strategic pattern for land use (housing, jobs, environmental protection etc.) for the next 10-15 years.

3. CPRE exists to promote the beauty, tranquillity and diversity of rural England by encouraging the sustainable use of land and other natural resources in town and country. We promote positive solutions for the long-term future of the countryside and to ensure change values its natural and built environment. Our Patron is Her Majesty The Queen. We have 59,000 supporters, a branch in every county, nine regional groups, over 200 local groups and a national office in central London. CPRE is a powerful combination of effective local action and strong national campaigning. Our President is Sir Max Hastings.

4. The amount of land expected to be lost has been calculated as follows: subtract the proportion of housing built on previously developed land (1997-2000) from the housing provision in current and emerging county Structure Plans, giving a figure for the number of houses that would be built on greenfield sites if these rates continue; divide this by the number of dwellings per hectare (dpha) achieved (1997-2001); gives the likely greenfield area in hectares (ha). For example, the Isle of Wight UDP (equivalent of Structure Plan) allocation for housing is 8,000 houses; subtract 58% of 8,000 (= 4,640); this leaves 3,360 houses; divide this by 23 dpha; gives 146 ha. (Sources: County Structure Plans, UDPs and Land Use Change Statistics 17A, ODPM, 2001).

5. The Government's intention to publish a Communities Plan for England was set out in a statement to the House of Commons by the Deputy Prime Minister, the Rt. Hon. John Prescott MP, in July 2002. The Plan is expected imminently, and will set out the Government's intention for housing and planning policy, including the proposed growth areas in South East England (Ashford, Thames Gateway, Milton Keynes Quadrangle and London-Stansted-Cambridge M11 Corridor).

6. Planning Policy Guidance note 3 Housing, (March 2000) marked a radical change in national planning guidance to local authorities on planning for new housing. It includes a sequential approach to new housing, prioritising urban sites, and minimum densities for new development of 30-50 dwellings per hectare.

7. Empty Homes Agency, 2003.

8. National Land Use Database (NLUD), Statistical Release BF-2002. Of the 66,000 hectares of previously developed land known to be available for redevelopment, around 28,000 hectares are deemed suitable for housing. Assuming developments are built at densities of 50 dwellings per hectare (at the top of the Government's recommended minimum range), this could provide land for 1.4 million dwellings. The NLUD figure is likely to be a serious underestimate as 37% of local authorities did not submit returns for 2001.

9. ODPM, 2002.

10. See note 6.

11. The Government's target for 60% of new housing to go on previously developed urban land and buildings was set out in the White Paper Planning for the Communities of the Future in February 1998. The target was exceeded (61%) in 2000/2001.

12. ODPM Circular 01/02 The Town and Country Planning (Residential Density) (London and South East England) Direction 2002 was announced at the Urban Summit in Birmingham at the end of October and came into effect on 2nd December 2002. It requires local planning authorities to notify the Secretary of State of any application for housing development which it intends to permit and which: is on a site of one hectare or more or sets the context for development of a larger area than that in the application; and proposes a density of lower than 30 dwellings per hectare. The Direction applies, however, only to London and the South East (including Essex, Bedfordshire and Buckinghamshire).

13. The Government's Urban White Paper Our Towns and Cities: the future (2000) was published in response to the Report of the Urban Task Force, commissioned by the Government and led by Lord Rogers of Riverside. While much of the Task Force's recommendations have been taken forward, important issues remain unaddressed.