Rural woe over regional planning proposals

9:02am Thursday 15th May 2008

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A RURAL protection charity is urging the Government to focus on regenerating urban areas in a bid to reduce the overall number of new homes planned for the Cotswolds.

The Gloucestershire branch of The Campaign to Protect Rural England is lobbying MPs and calling on members of the public to join in the battle for less new build but more affordable housing.

It hopes this Brownfield first' approach will protect the rural character of the county and ensure that essential urban regeneration is achieved before the Government finalises its Regional Spatial Strategy (RSS) this autumn.

"If we don't make our voices heard now it will be too late", warns Richard Lloyd, vice chair at CPRE Gloucestershire.

"Here in Gloucestershire we want to see an ordered approach to meeting housing targets which prioritises the redevelopment of Brownfield sites.

"Pursuing both Greenfield land releases and Brownfield site development at the same time will inevitably result in developers going for the easier green field options first, at the expense of our environment and contrary to government policy for regeneration.

"This summer is the last chance for people to let their MPs know what they feel about housing development in their communities and to ensure that their views are represented before the RSS is completed and housing levels are set for every district in the South West for the next twenty years."

The forthcoming consultation on proposed changes to the draft RSS for the South West can be viewed at www.gosw.gov.uk