Greenfield land size of Birmingham under threat

Britain is losing more than 2,250 hectares of greenfield land every year, according to new figures, resulting in the loss of an area the size of Birmingham by 2020.

By Louise Gray, Environment Correspondent Last Updated: 7:56PM GMT 02 Nov 2008

Gordon Brown announced ambitious plans to build three million new homes by 2020 when he came to power.
This is unlikely to be achieved in the current econmic climate, but the Government is still planning on building 211,000 houses every year. This could mean greenfield land is built on in some areas because there are not enough brownfield sites.
The Campaign for Rural England says that if current targets are to be met in the next 12 years, more than 2,250 hectares of greenfield land - including areas of land currently designated as green belt - is set to be developed for housing every year. By 2020 this would mean the lose of 27,182 hectares, an area equivalent to over 36,000 football pitches or the city of Birmingham.
Fiona Howie, CPRE's senior regional policy officer, claims local authorities will have no option but to build on greenfield sites. For example in the south east and south west, where there is not much brownfield left, more than 10,000 houses will be built on greenfield every year.
Miss Howie said local authorities have to allocate enough land to meet these targets - despite local protests.
"We do need more homes, but they should be delivered in a way that will not damage the environment and people's quality of life. The Government's aspirations for three million new homes by 2020 need to be reassessed, both in light of the current economic climate and the implications of such high levels of development for the green belt, the wider countryside and the achievement of emission reduction targets."
Miss Howie said local authorities should decide housing targets so that local people have more say over development and greenfield land is protected.
She said: "It is nonsense to plan as if land is an infinite resource. Current plans need to focus on the regeneration of urban areas and the reuse of previously developed land. Green Belt land and open countryside need to be more highly valued and protected.'
"If regional planning is to be reformed it must be done in ways which address the environmental shortcomings of current practice. In future, regional plans should set out an environmentally sustainable and achievable vision for the regions, developed in genuine partnership with those living and working in the area. Regional decisions should not be undermined by Government.'