Archived press release
Go to our press releases area for our current press releases.
Disaster for the countryside as labour minister rejects higher housing targets for re-used land
12 November 1997
The threat of 2 million new houses being built in the English countryside loomed closer today as Richard Caborn, Government Minister for Planning, rejected calls for more housing to be built on re-used (or 'brownfield') land [1].
Mr Caborn MP stated in an adjournment debate in the House of Commons that "the target for using previously developed land remains at 50 per cent". The previous Government had proposed a higher target of 60 per cent [2], which was backed recently by the Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution report on transport. The UK Roundtable on Sustainable Development has proposed a 75 per cent target for urban regeneration.
The announcement comes at a time of increasing concern over the environmental effects of greenfield housing, which encroaches on the countryside and generates extra traffic.
Mr Caborn also acknowledged that "there is growing concern about the Green Belt" despite the decision from the Government yesterday (11/11/97) that there will be no public inquiry into Manchester United's plan to build a training ground on a 110 acres of Carrington Greenbelt.
Simon Festing, Housing Campaigner for Friends of the Earth said:
"Labour's approach on housing spells disaster for the countryside. To reject the common sense alternative of urban regeneration through more housing is folly at such an early stage in the debate. Now we face ever increasing urban sprawl".
ENDS
NOTES TO EDITORS:
[1] Mr Caborn was speaking at an adjournment debate this morning at 11.00 tabled by David Drew, MP for Stroud, into concerns over housing and the countryside.
[2] Last year the then Environment Secretary, John Gummer launched a national debate on the location of new housing with the publication of a Green Paper "Household growth:where shall we live?". It followed publication of new housing projections in 1995, showing that 4.4 million new households will form by 2016.
If you're a journalist looking for press information please contact the Friends of the Earth media team on 020 7566 1649.
Published by Friends of the Earth Trust
Last modified: Jul 2008
