Press Release

Housing Recovery Package Fails To Address Rural Concerns

16/07/08

The raft of measures on housing announced today (Wednesday) will fail to address rural concerns.  This is the response of countryside campaigners (CPRE) [1]. Measures [2] include a new round of Growth Points across the country, identifying locations where significant increases in housing provision are proposed; new measures to support first time buyers; and further funding for affordable housing.

Kate Gordon, CPRE’s senior planner said:

‘We welcome some of the new measures, including funding to buy unsold stock from housebuilders for affordable housing. But this funding should not be used to acquire sub-standard homes of a poor quality that are expensive to maintain.

‘We are concerned by the lack of safeguards in this package to ensure that the countryside is not put in jeopardy by an approach which seeks housing development regardless of the cost – to communities and the environment.’

Kate Gordon continued:

‘We don’t believe the Government has fully assessed the risks of pursuing a housing growth strategy in the current economic climate. There is mounting evidence which suggests that developers will cherry pick greenfield sites in popular locations over less profitable brownfield opportunities.
 
‘This problem is likely to arise in Growth Points [3] where greenfield development is envisaged. Should this occur, it would be bad news for the countryside and for urban communities seeking regeneration and investment.’

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. Measures are set out in the Communities and Local Government publications: Facing the housing challenge: Action today, innovation for tomorrow, Second Round Growth Points: Partnerships for Growth and Housing and Planning Delivery Grant: Allocation Mechanism and Summary of Consultation Responses, published today available from the CLG website: http://www.communities.gov.uk/corporate/publications/all/

3. Sixteen Growth Points are proposed across all English regions apart from the East of England.  CPRE will be considering these in the light of local circumstances and current plans. Among Growth Points that are particularly worrying are Chester, Dover and Durham.  A new Regional Plan for the North East was formally approved yesterday - the North East Growth Points are increasing the housing figures before the ink is dry. The Durham Growth Point represents a 75% increase on current plans for new housing. This conflicts with the strategy of the Regional Plan (RSS), adopted recently, which focuses development in the two main conurbations.  This could threaten regeneration of neighbouring Teeside who will be competing for investment - which is precisely what the RSS was trying to avoid.  The North West Regional Plan (RSS) identifies Chester as inappropriate as a major Growth Point for housing or employment.