The Live Wire



Press Release

Brown Government Should Boost Urban Renewal

26 June 2007

‘Gordon Brown now has a great opportunity to demonstrate his commitment to urban renewal and improving the use of brownfield land.’ This was the message of countryside campaigners, CPRE [1], today (Tuesday) welcoming recommendations made to the Government on brownfield land. [2]

Kate Gordon, CPRE’s senior planning officer said:

‘The Government has made good progress on recycling brownfield land and buildings. [3] Yet the swathes of derelict and vacant brownfield land that blight parts of our towns and cities offer huge potential for further progress. [4] Formidable barriers can prevent the development or restoration of such sites. The recommendations in this report show how these can be overcome.’ [5]

Kate Gordon continued:

‘We support these recommendations. A more joined-up approach on the part of the Government would make a big difference. The recent decision by HM Treasury to end the exemption of vacant properties from business rates is welcome but further reform is needed. For example, we need to end the scandal of repairs and maintenance to buildings being subject to the full rate of VAT while development on green fields remains exempt.’

Kate Gordon concluded:

‘The new Prime Minister needs to continue the debate [6] on land-use started in March by Environment Minister, David Miliband, with a view to ensuring we make the best use of brownfield land.’


NOTES FOR EDITORS

1. CPRE, the Campaign to Protect Rural England, is a charity which promotes the beauty, tranquillity and diversity of rural England. We advocate positive solutions for the long-term future of the countryside. Founded in 1926, we have 60,000 supporters and a branch in every county. President: Sir Max Hastings. Patron: Her Majesty The Queen.

2. National Brownfield Strategy: Recommendations to Government, English Partnerships.

3. In 1998 the Government set a target for 60% of homes to be built on brownfield land. The target was reached in 2000. Last year, 74% of new homes were built on previously developed land.

4. According to the National Land Use Database there are around 62,700 hectares of brownfield available for development.

5. The recommendations cover a range of measures needed to enable the potential of brownfield land to be realised. Among the recommendations are that local authorities should prepare local brownfield strategies and that Government should take a more ‘joined up’ approach to encourage the re-use of brownfield land.

6. http://www.defra.gov.uk/corporate/ministers/speeches/david-miliband/dm070309.htm



Press releases, papers and documents published on this page are the intellectual property of an organisation unrelated to Central Lobby. We promote their parliamentary and political campaigning activities as they are subscribers to the Central Lobby service.

As such, Central Lobby does not edit, endorse, or attempt to balance the opinions expressed on this page. The content of press releases and other such types of content are the responsibility of the originating organisation.

Campaign to Protect Rural England

More from Dods

© Dods Parliamentary Communications Ltd