Commenting before the publication of the new National Planning Policy Framework, CPRE chief executive Roger Mortlock said:
‘The new National Planning Policy Framework must signal a shift away from bashing environmental regulation and damning those who care about the future of their communities as “blockers”.
‘We are concerned about any changes that expand the presumption in favour of development, particularly introducing a “default yes” to any developments in the countryside. The result would be car-dependent sprawl across the countryside, not sustainable and well-connected communities.
‘Every year since 2019, the UK has lost 3,800 acres of countryside on average – equivalent to the footprint of a small city. The problem isn’t going away: our research shows that the vast majority of new homes approved on so-called “grey belt” sites will be built on unspoilt countryside, not the disused petrol stations and car parks the government promised last year.
‘Building on green fields is a choice, not a necessity. Our research shows that there is room for at least 1.4 million homes on brownfield sites in England alone.
‘The government is missing the point if they look at tackling the housing crisis only through the lens of economic growth. People care more about high-quality, affordable and sustainable homes in the right places than they do about a political target for 1.5 million new homes.’