Archived press release

Treasury threat to planning system

10 December 2003

A review of housing supply, commissioned by the Treasury and published today, has blamed the UK planning system as one of the main causes of high house prices. The Barker Review [1] said that housing supply was a constraint on the UK's economic competitiveness. It also blamed planning for stopping brownfield site developments and getting in the way of housing expansion in the south east.

Friends of the Earth today criticised the review pointing out that:

• It focuses primarily on the problems in the south east where uncontrolled growth is creating serious pressure on natural resources such as water, while having a negative impact on quality of life with problems such as traffic congestion.

• It does not recognise that much of the delay in housebuilding is a result of the industry's failure to build on sites already allocated by the planning system [2]

• It ignores the crucial role played by the planning system as a vital tool for involving local people in decision making, protecting the environment and promoting sustainable development.

Friends of the Earth planning advisor Hugh Ellis said:

"This review criticises our planning system but fails to crack the real source of the problem. If the Treasury is serious about promoting sustainable development, then the last thing it should be doing is attacking the planning system. Rather it must put pressure on developers to build on brownfield sites allocated for development, and protect vital resources from developments that cannot be sustained."

Friends of the Earth is calling for a fair and accessible planning system which can meet housing need without compromising environmental sustainability. This should be based on greater public sector investment and control of the social housing stock. There are real concerns that this review could contribute to the growing pressure on resources in the south east.

Notes

[1] Full details of the Barker report

[2] According to CPRE's most recent analysis, the 15 major housebuilders declare in their annual or interim reports to shareholders that they have land sufficient for 310,262 homes. This is land they are confident of being able to build on, either because they have outline planning permission or better. The number of housing plots in their landbanks has risen by 31% since 1998.

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Published by Friends of the Earth Trust