Essex has been revealed as the most anti-development county in England, according to research from Stack Data Strategy.
Uttlesford, Maldon, Brentford and Rochford all feature among the 10 local authority areas in which residents are least supportive of new development.
Based on polls of more than 15,000 adults nationally on their views about various types of development within 0.5 miles of where they live, the study also found that Gloucestershire and Cornwall have some of the most anti-development residents in England, with respondents putting Forest of Dean and Isles of Scilly among the top 10 most anti-development areas in England.
The data also shows that inner London is the most pro-development, with Hackney the local authority area most in favour of new development. Outside London, Greater Manchester, Merseyside and Nottinghamshire are the counties with some of the most pro-development residents, with Manchester, Liverpool and Nottingham the most supportive local authority areas.
With property developers and planners needing to find ways to win over local opinion, Stack Data Strategy uncovered the four most effective arguments for persuading anti-development residents:
- the creation of jobs;
- that any new development would give future generations a chance at affordable home ownership and renting;
- that there would be improvements to the local area and house price growth; and
- that new green spaces would be created.
Kieran Kumaria, managing director at Stack Data Strategy, said: “Planning is partly political, and the process is often dominated by vocal minorities with the time and inclination to noisily engage. This research gives voice to the potentially supportive majority. Winning support for new development is possible everywhere, if it addresses what people want in their local area and if it is explained in terms that people understand. If we are going to get building again, we need to understand what the supportive majority think, want and worry about.”
Photo by Cottonbro Studio/Pexels
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