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Press Release

Conservative 'localism' proposals: good, but room for improvement - CPRE

17th February 2009

Incentives for local authorities to build more homes must encourage good planning, not urban sprawl. This is the response of the Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE) to the Conservative Party proposals published today (Tuesday).

The document sets out the Party's proposals, which include scrapping regional planning; devolving decision making on planning, house-building and economic growth to local authorities; and enabling those authorities to benefit financially from delivering more homes.

While many of the proposals are positive, we have concerns about Conservative plans to offer financial incentives to local authorities for housing development. It is vitally important that councils are not effectively offered bribes for development; proper planning must remain sacrosanct.

"We welcome the commitment to devolve decision making to the most appropriate level. There is certainly a requirement for more affordable housing that meets the needs of local communities.

"However, a strategic overview must guide local aspirations to ensure that development is focused, wherever possible, on regenerating previously developed sites. This overview cannot be achieved at the local level," said Fiona Howie, CPRE"s Senior Regional Policy Officer.

Fiona Howie continued:

"The renewed commitment to abolish the Infrastructure Planning Commission is particularly welcome. This unelected quango would have created a serious democratic deficit on decisions on large infrastructure like new power stations and airport runways. Such big planning decisions must not be imposed on local communities."



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Campaign to Protect Rural England

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