A return to well designed high density living, in rural as well as urban areas, can build sustainable communities and secure environmental objectives. This is the conclusion of research being published by CPRE [1] today (Tuesday).

The Proximity Principle: why we are living too far apart [2], suggests that proximity encourages community interaction, makes public transport, local services and environmental initiatives more viable, and drives creativity – a key component of a successful economy.

Marina Pacheco Head of Planning at CPRE said:

‘Current housing policy is causing settlements to spread out wider, and people are now living further away from each other than at any point since the birth of modern cities. The creation of ten new eco-towns, the centrepiece of Gordon Brown’s housing plans, will only worsen this drift, and will weaken the social fabric of existing towns.’

Becky Willis, author of this report commented:

‘Despite the advantages of proximity, Gordon Brown’s housing policy is causing greater dispersal, by promoting new ‘eco-towns’ outside existing settlements and refusing to provide incentives for development within existing towns and villages. This report suggests that housing policy should focus on supporting existing communities.’

Professor Anne Power, Centre for Analysis of Social Exclusion, LSE, said:

‘This report breaks new ground in thinking about density and proximity in rural and small-scale communities. It reinforces the urgency of compact development where people, services and amenities are all located close together so that people can live more sustainably in a more socially integrated way.’

Commenting on the report Jon Reeds, of Brownfield Briefing, said:

‘Living in well-designed, compact settlements has enormous benefits for community and climate. This report is a timely reminder for an overcrowded island addicted to urban sprawl.’

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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. www.cpre.org.uk

2. The Proximity Principle: why we are living too far apart, is the latest report examining the pros and cons of higher density development to be commissioned by CPRE. The author of the report is Rebecca Willis, an independent researcher and Vice-Chair of the UK Sustainable Development Commission. Her work focuses on environmental politics and policymaking at both a national and regional level. She has researched and written on issues such as climate change, energy policy, public attitudes to the environment, government spending and taxation, and the environmental and social impact of new technologies.

Based on detailed qualitative research with householders in four towns and villages, the report says that a new focus on proximity could bring both social and environmental rewards:

• living closer together encourages more community interaction, and reduces isolation for vulnerable social groups, such as young families;
• compact settlements require less transport, and reduce car use, with health and environmental benefits;
• higher density development is environmentally beneficial, resulting in lower carbon emissions;
• in rural areas, more compact villages could help to stem the decline in rural services such as shops, post offices and bus services.

Recommendations to encourage proximity include:
• tax incentives for refurbishment and reuse of land and buildings within existing settlements;
• ambitious design standards for new homes: internal ‘space standards’ should specify generous living space within homes, while minimum density levels should ensure compact, walkable settlements;
• new settlements such as eco-towns should only be considered when there is clear demand for additional housing that cannot be provided within existing settlements.

3. Somersham, Cambridgeshire: a compact village of around 4,000 people, with an estimated 40 dwellings per hectare at its core, surrounded by lower density;

Haddenham, Cambridgeshire: a more spread-out village, of around 3,000 people, with an estimated 10-30 dwellings per hectare throughout;

Westoe Crown Village, South Shields: a medium–high density new development in South Shields, which will house 1,500-2,000 people when complete, at an estimated density of 50 dwellings per hectare;

Rowlands Gill, Newcastle upon Tyne: a low-density village suburb of Newcastle, with a population of around 5,500 and an estimated density of around 10-20 dwellings per hectare.