Countryside being ‘concreted’ for housing

FARMLAND, forests and gardens are being swallowed up at an “alarming rate”, with greenfield land being developed at the fastest rate for 25 years, say rural campaigners.

The Campaign to Protect Rural England said the countryside was being “concreted over” because of a drive to release land for houses.

The acreage lost to property development has soared by 58 per cent in the past four years, research shows. The CPRE has blamed a relaxation of planning rules by the coalition government in 2012 for a surge in development in “wastefully low densities”.

Under previous rules, at least 30 new homes had to be built per hectare (2.5 acres) but that has dropped to just 26 homes per hectare.

More than 3,300 hectares of greenfield land was lost to development last year, the equivalent of a town the size of Hastings. Five years ago, the figure was 2,105 hectares.

The Government has committed to building 300,000 new homes a year by the mid-2020s, and Theresa May has warned councils that they must draw up plans to address local shortages or be stripped of their right to decide where new homes are built.

Rebecca Pullinger of CPRE said that while brownfield development is still high, the huge increase in greenfield development had resulted in a “rapid concreting over of the countryside”.

She said: “The lack of reduction in greenfield development is alarming for those who love the countryside. Developers are still able to force through land-hungry greenfield development even when brownfield options exist, often only benefiting their own profits.

“Without a clear, national policy that empowers councils to refuse applications for greenfield land where suitable brownfield options exist, our cherished countryside will continue to be ripped up at an alarming rate.

“Brownfield land is a renewable resource, with new sites constantly being brought forward. It is often quicker to develop than greenfield land, and the majority is in areas that people want to live in. It also helps towards the regeneration of our towns and cities. It is a win-win for all.”

Daniel Kawczynski, the Conservative MP, said yesterday that he planned to raise the matter with ministers when Parliament returns from the Whitsun recess next week.

He said: “While there is clearly a need to build more, it must be done in a sustainable way that protects the countryside and the green belt. We need to revisit this issue.”