Countryside campaigners CPRE [1] welcomed new Government policies on planning for housing published today (Wednesday) [2] which should help ensure that new housing can deliver environmental benefits and better meets housing needs. But we are concerned that the Government will not be policing low density and greenfield housing development to the extent it has in the past [3].

Neil Sinden, CPRE’s Policy Director, said:

‘The debate about the level and kind of new housing we need will continue, but we hope this new policy will help planners deliver more of the right kind of homes in the right places.

‘The location of new housing is a critical factor in minimising its environmental impact. Recycling previously developed, ‘‘brownfield’’ land in our towns and cities can help make them more attractive, liveable and sustainable by improving derelict land, sustaining local services and reducing the need to travel by car.

‘The planning system should also do more to help deliver a big increase in building subsidised, affordable homes for those unable to afford market housing – including in many villages and market towns.

‘The new policies published today will help local councils to do this by increasing the proportion of affordable housing required on larger development sites and by allowing them to allocate land solely for affordable housing in small rural settlements.’

Neil Sinden concluded:

‘The impact of these improvements in policy will depend on how they are applied on the ground.

‘CPRE groups throughout the country will be working with local councils to make sure we get the best from the new policy framework. We’re determined to sustain recent progress in renewing our towns and cities, and in protecting the countryside from unnecessary development for the benefit of us all.’

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NOTES FOR EDITORS
 

1. CPRE, the Campaign to Protect Rural England, is a charity which promotes the beauty, tranquillity and diversity of rural England. We advocate positive solutions for the long-term future of the countryside. Founded in 1926, we have 60,000 supporters and a branch in every county. President: Sir Max Hastings. Patron: Her Majesty The Queen.

2.  The new Planning Policy Statement 3 Housing was published on 29 November alongside new proposals to promote the use of brownfield sites in sustainable locations.  CPRE particularly welcomes the new powers to allow local councils to prevent developers ‘cherrypicking’ greenfield sites where brownfield land was available.

3.  Paragraph 74 of the new PPS indicates that the Government will be cancelling both the Greenfield and Density Directions from 1 April 2007. These Directions require that greenfield development over 5 hectares and housing densities below 30 dpha on sites above 1 hectare are automatically referred to the Secretary of State.