Wednesday, November 05, 2008
First published : Local Government Chronicle
MPs have recommended that the government should urgently review its target to build three million new homes by 2020 because of the economic downturn.
In a new report, the House of Commons Environmental Audit select committee says the government should take a fresh look at the basis of its house building target in the light of the current downturn, which has led to a dramatic slump in residential development.
And the committee urges the Government to suspend the implementation of its regional spatial strategies until it has carried out and published an environmental appraisal of its house-building targets.
Despite the current market downturn, the MPs say the government should ensure that minimum standards for public transport and green infrastructure apply to all new developments.
The report also urges that the target to make all new homes zero carbon by 2016 should be used to speed up the development of community renewable energy sources for local neighbourhoods.
It says proposals for eco-towns should be re-examined to ensure they have good public transport links, and are located close to commercial centres and employment opportunities, so that they do not lead to large rises in road journeys.
Kate Gordon, senior planner at the Campaign to Protect Rural England welcomed the report. She said: "The Environmental Audit Committee`s excellent report hits the nail on the head. We wholeheartedly endorse its recommendations, and share the deep concerns of the Committee`s members".
"The Government has a good record on building on brownfield land but the pressure for greenfield development will intensify in an economic downturn. Inflexible Government targets and planning rules are forcing local councils across the country to needlessly allocate greenfield land for housing.
"Without a policy change local authorities will have no choice but to grant permission for greenfield development. In a period of economic decline developers will inevitably cherry pick green fields over less profitable brownfield locations," she added.