The Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE) and the National Trust have claimed that the emerging East of England plan “poses major threats to the region’s environment and heritage.”
Keith Turner, area manager for the national trust, said: “With one of the UK’s fastest growing economies, the East of England faces major changes.
“We need the Plan to guide this process, balance economic growth with protection for our environment and heritage, and offer investment in the future.
“As it stands, the Plan risks unsustainable amounts of development which will have long-term impacts on internationally important green spaces such as Hatfield forest.”
The plan contains proposals for 478,000 new homes by 2021, accompanying industrial and business development, and 67 road schemes.
Alan Richardson, the inspector who chaired the Plan’s examination in public, is now writing a report for the Deputy Prime Minister.
The government can then propose changes, before a final 12-week period of consultation.
CPRE and the National Trust want the government to:
· recognise that climate change, freshwater scarcity and flooding should limit development in the region;
· focus on building affordable housing, rather than market housing;
· ensure protected greenspaces, river corridors, flood plains, migrations routes and wildlife corridors are included;
· guarantee existing green belt protected and new green belt land proposed;
· retain focus on brownfield development;
· oppose an additional runway at Stansted airport
References: EGi News 04/05/06
