Home > Press releases > 1998
23 Apr 1998
An area of countryside greater than the whole of East Dorset could
be saved from destructive housebuilding [1] through providing more homes
in towns and cities say Friends of the Earth and conservation charity
WISE [2], following the publication of a new report today. The groups
are calling on Deputy PM John Prescott to increase the target for housebuilding
in urban areas to 75% (from 60%). This could reduce housebuilding in
the countryside by around three quarters of a million homes.
The report, Tomorrow: A Peaceful Path to Urban Reform
- which was commissioned by FOE and WISE from urban regeneration group
URBED - is the first comprehensive assessment of 'urban capacity' ever
made for the country as a whole. It draws together the most recent research,
and shows that there is far more opportunity to provide homes in towns
and cities than previously thought. It concludes that “it is
feasible to aim for a 75%target for new homes in urban areas by developing
a new agenda for urban renaissance”.This contrasts with the
60% target announced recently by Environment Secretary John Prescott.
The additional housing capacity comes not just from building on brownfield
sites,but from making better use of existing homes and buildings, for
example from 'living over the shop', or converting empty offices to
housing.
The report is published the day after campaigners attended the AGM
of Persimmon Homes where they challenged its directors over plans to
build 10,000 houses in the Green Belt to the West of Stevenage [3].
The House of Commons Select Committee on the Environment also met yesterday
where it took evidence from urban capacity specialists 'Llewelyn Davies'consultants,
and from the Civic Trust, which presented its own new findings that
urban capacity was higher than previously thought [4].
Dr Simon Festing, Housing Campaigner of Friends of the Earth said:
“John Prescott must realise that urban renaissance can only
become reality if he sets a target of building three quarters of new
homes in urban areas”.
A spokesman for WISE said:
“John Prescott says the countryside is precious. Now the Government must show that it cares about the environment in action as well as word.”
The report shows that there is a wide variety of opportunities
for providing more homes in urban areas as follows (with capacity figures
after):
|
Building on recycled land |
2,217,000 |
|
The redevelopment of council estates |
22,000 |
|
The conversion of empty commercial space |
80,000 |
|
Living above shops |
400,000 |
|
The subdivision of existing housing |
380,000 |
|
The intensification of existing housing areas |
224,000 |
|
The better use of existing housing stock |
325,000 |
|
The redevelopment of car parks |
160,000 |
|
Total |
3,818,000 |
The report envisages only using an appropriate fraction of each option,
thus avoiding building on valuable urban greenfields or wildlife areas,
and avoiding any 'town cramming'of existing residential areas. The author
makes a number of policy recommendations to'unlock' this capacity and
make towns and cities more attractive places to live.
NOTES TO EDITORS:
[1] Moving from a 60% target to a 75% target could mean 750,000 fewer
houses built in the countryside (assuming as a 'worst case scenario'
the need for around 5 million new homes). According to Statistics from
the (then) DoE, every 1000 houses in rural areas typically results in
urbanisation of up 50 hectares of land. So 37,500 hectares could be
saved, compared to East Dorset district which is 35,000 hectares.
[2] 'Tomorrow: A Peaceful Path to Urban Reform' is available
from Friends of the Earth Publication Despatch, 01582 482297 Price £8.00
inc p&p code L432 ISBN 1 85750 320 1.
It was written by David Rudlin, Director of URBED (The Urban and Economic
Development Group) for Friends of the Earth and funded by 'WISE', a
newly formed charity concerned with conservation and heritage.
[3] Persimmon Homes is holding its AGM in Edinburgh on Wednesday 22nd
April.Campaigners from Friends of the Earth Scotland and from the Campaign
Against Stevenage Expansion will attend the meeting as shareholders
to protest outside about the environmental damage caused by the West
of Stevenage expansion, and will ask questions about what arrangements
the company has taken to deal with any protests that might happen if
it goes ahead with its plans.
[4] The House of Commons Select Committee is currently holding an inquiry
into household growth and the location of new homes. Llewellyn Davies
are the leading experts in the field of urban capacity and have recently
completed a number of projects, including a report for the London Planning
Advisory Committee (LPAC) in 1997 - 'Sustainable Residential Quality:
New approaches to urban living'. It was evidence from Llewellyn Davies
that first led to the Roundtable on Sustainable Development suggesting
a 75% target for providing homes in the urban area in February 1997.
Contact details:
Friends of the Earth
26-28 Underwood St.
LONDON
N1 7JQ
Tel: 020 7490 1555
Fax: 020 7490 0881
Web: www.foe.co.uk/feedback.html
Media team
