Campaigners are concerned that local objections are not going to be enough to stop a huge number of new homes being built in picturesque villages. They fear at least 140,000 properties will be given the green light to be developed in England’s “green and pleasant” land.
The CPRE (Campaign to Protect Rural England) claim new rules will be used by developers which will allow them to revive some of the most unpopular schemes. Most at risk are the areas that were earmarked for development by the former Government before being shelved by the new coalition partnership. They include Cambridgeshire, where 4,800 new properties are planned on an area of Greenfield land. Currently 51% of authorities in England have plans identifying how many new homes are needed and where they could be located, with most of them earmarked for Greenfield sites. Research by Campaign to Protect Rural England found a total of 140,000 potential new homes could be built in the countryside and residents will be hard pressed to stop the developers.
Paul Miner of the CPRE said: “That will be the tip of the iceberg because other councils don’t have local plans at all. Current planning laws favour the reuse of Brownfield sites but the new rules effectively remove the protection for Greenfield land – the countryside. Developers will go for the areas where the local plan has identified a need for housing as it will be harder for the council to refuse permission. Any builder refused permission will simply appeal, citing the local housing shortage. Lawyers will have a field day.”
The controversial scheme was drawn up under the Labour government, with the houses, which would all be protected with cheap house insurance, designed to have minimal energy use. However, campaigners fear schemes which have previously been defeated by local residents could be revived. They are worried that developers will not go away if they get rejected and settlements will be saddled with an inappropriate scheme despite local opposition. There is also concern that developers are already applying for permission under the principles set out in the new rules. Only last week developers won an appeal to build 230 homes and get house insurance quotes on them in Leicestershire, despite the council unanimously rejecting the plan.