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Prescott fails to relieve pressure on countryside
23 February 1998
The greater emphasis on regional targets, the use of urban capacity studies and the phased release of land for homes are all welcome but his target that 60% of all new homes should be built on recycled land is inadequate. No firm commitments have been to prevent building on green field sites or plans announced to overcome obstacles to house-building on recycled land.
Simon Festing, Friends of the Earth's Housing Campaigner said:
“Mr Prescott's announcement will bring little relief to the hundreds of communities throughout the country that are threatened by plans for green field housing. His statement contains lots of focus group-friendly phrases, but little to prove that the countryside is safe in Labour's hands.”
Friends of the Earth is calling on the Government to:
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Set a national target that 75 per cent of new homes will be built in existing towns and cities;
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Remove the barriers to increased house-building in cities such as by relaxing controls on parking provision and maximum density;
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Reverse its decision to allow 10,000 homes to be built in the Green Belt near Stevenage and 2,500 in the Green Belt near Newcastle;
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Change planning regulations to allow local councils to earmark land for affordable,rural housing.
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Published by Friends of the Earth Trust
Last modified: Jul 2008
