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WE ARE READY TO TALK MINISTER, ARE YOU?
Countryside campaigners, CPRE, expressed disappointment at comments reported on Monday, June 30th by a spokesperson for Housing Minister Caroline Flint that questioned CPRE's commitment to affordable housing in the countryside [1].
Head of Planning, Marina Pacheco said:
‘We are disappointed that the Minister has responded to our call for a re-think on the eco-towns programme by attacking our credentials.
‘We strongly support affordable housing in the countryside and have done considerable research on the topic. We support the Rural Affordable Housing Commission's call for 7,700 affordable social rented homes to be provided in rural areas [2]. Far from perpetuating myths, we are seriously engaging with the debate over new housing. We would love to speak to Caroline Flint in person about our concerns. Unfortunately, we've written to her requesting a meeting on more than one occasion over the past six months, but have yet to receive a response.'
Marina continued:
‘As for myth-making, we're concerned that Government pledges on eco-towns are turning out to be the myths. If more people knew more of the reality of eco-towns on the ground then the reported 46% of people polled as supportive of the schemes would drop off [3]. Although the Government has committed to protecting the Green Belt, an eco-town proposal in Ms Flint's own constituency involves development on Green Belt land.'
CPRE's other concerns about eco-towns include:
(1) Promises that eco-towns will be built on brownfield land ignore the reality on the ground where 12 of the 14 proposed eco-towns may be building on 60% or more greenfield land [4];
(2) Promises that eco-towns will address the lack of affordable rural housing are flawed: the proposed eco-towns represent 3 to 7% of the Government's aspiration for 3 million new homes and will do little to bring them within reach of low income families [5];
(3) Promises that eco-towns will be sustainable are seriously compromised by the location of the majority of these proposed schemes. Free standing eco-towns mean that people living in these homes, affordable or not, would probably have to commute long distances for work. This will become less and less sustainable as fuel prices rise; and
(4) Promises that the eco-towns will be zero-carbon are meaningless unless this takes into account transport related carbon emissions as well as carbon emissions related to the use and construction of buildings.
NOTES
1. The original comments by the CLG spokesperson, reported in The Daily Telegraph (30.6.08) and BBC News Online (30.6.08) state: ‘This is the CPRE reverting to type, opposing the housing that young families and first-time buyers need. It is a shame that CPRE prefer to perpetuate myths rather than engaging in the debate about how we build the houses we need.'
2. CPRE participated in the work of the Government's Affordable Rural Housing Commission, welcoming its final report and calling on the Government to implement its recommendations. Our joint charter with the National Housing Federation proposes measures which should be taken to provide more affordable homes in rural areas. Other research by CPRE includes Family Housing, The Power of Concentration, CPRE, May 2008; Housing the Nation, Meeting the need for affordable housing - facts, myths, solutions, CPRE November 2004; Planning for Housing Affordability, Why providing more land for house-building will not reduce house prices, CPRE July 2007.
3. The Andrew Irving Associates You Gov survey Eco-towns: the case for sustainable affordable housing growth was conducted this month with 1,693 adults in England. It was commissioned to ascertain the level of awareness, understanding and perceptions of eco-towns among the general public.
4. A recent statement by Caroline Flint claimed that the Ford eco-town proposal would be built on 30% brownfield land - but the so-called brownfield area of the site is currently being used to grow crops. Towns that will probably be built on more than 60% of greenfield include, Middle Quinton, Marston, Rossington, RAF Strubby, Bordon Whitehill, RAF Manby, NE Elsenham, Curborough, Ford, Pennbury, Weston Otmoor and Hanley.
5. Recent evidence from Warwickshire County Council show that the average house price in the proposed Middle Quinton eco-town would be an unaffordable £300,000.
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