As Government prepares to reform the planning of new homes, countryside campaigners Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE) points out that housebuilding is going through a huge boom. Last year 160,000 new homes were completed in England, the highest level since 1990, and housebuilding has grown by a fifth since the current planning policy came into force six years ago.
CPRE's planning and housing campaigner Henry Oliver said: 'We've had a big increase in the use of derelict or under-used land for new homes. This has helped to protect the countryside and the wider environment, while contributing massively to urban regeneration. The Treasury and housebuilders are piling on the pressure for a weaker, market-driven approach to planning, but it's clear the present policy has actually delivered six years of success. It's one of the most environmentally friendly policies the Government has ever introduced, one that really does approach sustainable development. If it ain't broke, don't fix it.'
