Archived press release

Three quarters of new homes can be built in towns and cities

23 April 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):

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.

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Published by Friends of the Earth Trust