Campaign groups anger at Green Belt housing calls

Councillor Pat Colclugh and Councillor Dale Mulgrew at the site on Romney Avenue of the first new houses being built under the Kirkholt regeneration programme ‘Vision for Kirkholt’ re-using brownfield land

Campaigners have hit back at Planning Minister Nick Boles’ calls yesterday (29 November) to increase the urbanised area of England.

In a speech to the Town & Country Planning Association, Mr Boles sought an increase in the area of built up land in England, including building on green land.

His calls were met with angry resistance by campaign groups however, who branded them ‘provocative and unnecessary’.

Shaun Spiers, Chief Executive of the Campaign for the Protection of Rural England, led the counter-argument, stating his belief countryside should be protected.

“Nick Boles does not appear to know how much of England is really built on, nor does he seem to understand that the countryside does not always have to be outstandingly beautiful to be worth protecting,” he said.

“We do need to build many more new homes in this country and some will have to go on greenfield sites.

“It is equally crucial that people have places to enjoy peace and tranquillity, as the Government’s own National Planning Policy Framework recognises.

“Rather than giving up on good planning and allowing housebuilders to let rip, we should be re-using the tens of thousands of hectares of brownfield land available for high quality affordable housing, and strengthening protection for recognised ‘tranquil’ areas of countryside.

“That is the best way to a lasting economic recovery.”

He added: “When he was running a think tank, Nick Boles specialised in interesting if somewhat unrealistic ideas. He is no longer an intellectual gadfly. He is a Minister with a serious job and it is time that he got serious.”

Mr Boles claimed nine per cent of England is built-up land, but government figures show this to be nearer 12 per cent - the third highest figure in Europe after Belgium and Holland.

Campaign group Boarded Up Britain want existing houses to be repaired before more are built.

“Boles's argument that the built environment can be more beautiful than nature is divisive,” founder Matthew Dyas said.

“But what can't be denied is that the boarded up, unused and unloved buildings in town and city centres aren't pretty and in many cases are blights on communities.

“People walk past these buildings everyday of their lives, but we need to stop turning a blind eye and do something about them.

“Before turning our attentions to developing more land let's take a look at the boarded up Britain and I think we'll quickly fund that there is enough potential to help solve the current housing crisis.”

Such work is already ongoing in Rochdale, with additional housing being built on the Kingsway site and the former Whipp & Bourne factory in Castleton being replaced by a housing estate.

FreshStart Living also want existing land to be regenerated before new land is sought.

The property regeneration specialists, who own notable developments across Greater Manchester, called for Mr Boles to turn his attention to these developments first.

“There is enough brownfield land to create one million affordable homes - not to mention the thousands of unused buildings and stalled projects on developers' books and belonging to local authorities,” Charlie Cunningham, CEO, said.

“There are thousands of unused buildings in town and city centres which can be quickly turned into affordable residential apartments which would go a long way in solving the current housing crisis.

“Nick Boles should turn his attention to these buildings first before looking at developing on more land.”