Reform three: Protect the countryside

The three million new homes planned for 2020 to be built on brownfield sites only.

With hundreds of thousands of houses lying empty and remnants of Britain's industrial past standing neglected, it's strange we would even consider building over fields or green belt. The Government has beaten its target for building 60 per cent of new homes on brownfield, but some argue we should look to brownfield for all three million new homes - a view House Beautiful supports.

As Brian Berry, Director of External Affairs at the Federation of Master Builders points out, ‘It's ironic for the Government to build eco towns and then put them on greenfield sites. We should also be looking at small infill sites, say half a dozen houses in a small village or main town. This way, the development will be integrated into the community rather than bolted on, and facilities such as public transport, schools and community centres will already exist.'Good design and the latest eco technologies should combine to provide quality housing that's affordable for families.

But it's easier to get planning permission for big developments, cheaper to build on a larger scale, and when new estates are built on green belt, there are fewer complications. There's no contaminated land that has to be cleared first or concerns about roads needing to be re-routed.

Kate Gordon, Senior Planning Officer of the Campaign to Protect Rural England, says: ‘House builders are all too keen to build on greenfield sites because they are more profitable than most brownfield locations. But much of our housing needs could be met by recycling previously developed land and buildings.'

Many developers have achieved fabulously modern and popular new developments from neglected and desolate brownfield sites. For example, the Thames Gateway in London, the largest area of brownfield land in southeast England, is currently being regenerated. Work started last November at Greenwich Peninsula to build 10,000 houses, as well as a school, college, offices, cafes, shops and restaurants. This is a far cry from when Docklands was developed more than 20 years ago, with luxury flats but no public transport or community facilities and only the odd shop.

So what stands in the way of more successful redevelopment of brownfield sites? According to Brian Berry, the answer is simple: a better planning procedure. ‘The planning system is the single most important factor inhibiting the construction of new housing,' he says. ‘Planning needs to be reformed so that it's more streamlined, predictable and faster, and less bureaucratic.'

Chief Secretary to the Treasury and former Housing Minister Yvette Cooper seems to agree, to a point. As she told House Beautiful Editor Julia Goodwin: ‘We have to target old and derelict buildings and land in town centres, and that's just what's happening. As well as preserving the natural environment, we want higher environmental standards in all homes. Good design and the latest eco technologies should combine to provide quality housing that's affordable for families.

To read more about the House Beautiful Built to Last campaign, click here...

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