CPRE South East [1] today (Wednesday) expressed great concern over a recommended increase in housing numbers from 28,900 to 32,000 to be built in the South East every year for the next 20 years. The South East Plan Independent Panel [2] has proposed this figure while rejecting yet higher annual housing targets.

Six Strategic Development Areas are proposed to accommodate up to 5,000 new homes each. There are two in Hampshire at Fareham and Hedge End; two in Milton Keynes to the south west and south east (both are an endorsement of the MK2031 work); and the final two are in south Oxford and south Reading.

More importantly, CPRE has major concerns about the Panel’s call for selective Green Belt reviews around Guildford, Oxford and possibly Woking. These could undermine the integrity of the Green Belt.

CPRE South East welcomes the importance attached by the Panel to the sustainable development of the South East and to the quality of life of its inhabitants. But the pressure for new housing in the South East is more intense than in any other region of the country. This poses a serious challenge to the character, beauty and tranquillity of the region’s countryside. CPRE South East believes that it is therefore essential that a challenging target of 75% or more new housing on brownfield sites is set. We are disappointed that the Panel has recommended only a 60% target.

On affordability, we are pleased that the Panel agrees that it is not simply a case of building our way out of the problem. They recommend strengthening the Plan’s housing policies to get the right type and size of housing.

CPRE South East Director Edward Dawson said:

‘It is a huge challenge to provide 640,000 new homes in a region where the capacity of the environment is being stretched to the limit. There will be huge pressures on resources and infrastructure, such as water and transport, and large areas of valued countryside, including the internationally important Thames Basin Heaths, are under serious threat. We urge the Government not to accept the proposed increase in numbers.’

Edward Dawson concluded:

‘The South East Plan process has been carried out in a fair, open and democratic manner. However, it remains to be seen if the final housing numbers will be sustainable.’

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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: Bill Bryson. Patron: Her Majesty The Queen.

2. The Independent Panel consisted of a Chairman, Corinne Swain, supported by two senior Inspectors: Martin Shaw and Mary Travers. The Examination in Public took place from 28 November 2006 to 30 March 2007, and sat in Woking, Reading, Chichester and Maidstone. www.eipsoutheast.co.uk. The full 450 page report will be available on Wednesday 29 August GOSE's web-site: www.gos.gov.uk/gose/planning/regionalPlanning/southEastPlan/

The Panel is recommending a 10% increase in housing per annum. The Panel recommendation of 32,000 is significantly lower than alternative options put forward by SEEDA, developers and others, and is lower than GOSE wanted. Many of these were looking for 36,000. If housing numbers in the recent Government Housing Green Paper were used, it would mean 38,000 for the South East Region.

Next steps
The Government will now consider its response to the Panel Report. The proposed changes will be published at the end of this year or towards the beginning of 2008. There will then be a 12-week consultation period, with the final Plan being published late summer next year. In the meantime, the process for this is as follows:

• Report to the Assembly’s Executive Committee on 14 September
• A workshop for Regional Planning Committee, Regional Housing Board and Regional Transport Board members on 26 September
• The RPC will consider any issues on the 26 September
• Full Assembly endorsement of a response at the plenary session on 14 November