Saving Our Cities

06.03.07

Countryside campaigners CPRE [1] today warmly welcomed a Royal Commission report [2] highlighting the crucial role green spaces play in protecting the environment of our towns and cities.

But enhancing and expanding these green, semi-natural ‘lungs’ in our urban areas should not come at the price of weakening the Government’s ‘brownfield first’ policy and a strong land recycling target.

CPRE Policy Director Neil Sinden said: ‘The Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution recommends reviewing the Government target for 60% of all new homes to be provided through building on previously developed, “brownfield” land or by converting buildings into new homes.

‘Like the Commission, we don’t want to see urban brownfield sites which have become green, rich in wildlife and well loved by local people being built over. Nor should there be development all over suburban gardens.

‘But today more than 75% of new homes are being provided by building on brownfields and conversions – way over the existing 60% target. [3]

‘A report we’ve just published shows there is massive, untapped potential for building badly needed new homes on abandoned or under-used sites which are wasting space and causing blight in our towns and cities. [4]

‘So the target should be revised – but upwards. The brownfield first policy has boosted urban regeneration whilst protecting dozens of square miles of countryside from being built over.’

CPRE welcomed the Royal Commission’s strong defence of the planning system, its recognition of the huge potential environmental benefits of compact city living and its recommendations for healthier, more attractive towns and cities which contribute to solving global environmental problems while giving residents a better quality of life.

We also support the Royal Commission’s call for reducing car traffic and for equal VAT treatment of new buildings and refurbished buildings – a long overdue tax change which would give urban regeneration a significant boost.

Neil Sinden said: ‘If we’re to have a beautiful, enduring countryside then the urban environments in which most of us live have to be healthy, pleasant and attractive. There have been huge improvements in our towns and cities, but as the RCEP’s report shows, there’s still a long way to go.’

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. Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution 26th Report, The Urban Environment, published 6 March 2007.

3. In 2005, 77 per cent of new homes in England were provided by building on previously developed land or by conversions. Land Use Change in England: Residential Development to 2005, Update - January 2007, DCLG, January 2007.

4. Untapped Potential, published by CPRE in March 2007, and the accompanying news release available from our website www.cpre.org.uk. Hard copies available from our press office. CPRE has proposed an 85% target.

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