Councils adopting a nimby attitude are limiting development on brownfiled sites - increasing pressure on the countryside and limiting urban renaissance
Local Authorities Surrender To Nimbys
BRITAIN is facing a housing crisis as local authorities are abusing new planning rules forcing developers to use derelict land, Housing Minister Nick Raynsford has admitted.
At a House Builders Federation conference yesterday (Oct 4), Mr Raynsford conceded that an increasing number of local authorities fearful of local opposition, were using the rules, aimed at getting more homes built on brownfield sites, as a way of delaying or rejecting all applications.
Mr Raynsford said: We are not prepared to see the responsible approach set out in PPG3 being hijacked by those who are inherently opposed to development, full stop.
Whilst accepting that house builders were increasingly moving away from using greenfield sites and embracing the need for urban regeneration, he said: We must convince a worried public that this job can be done properly and that we can produce homes that people want to live in and places in which they take pride.
Despite this, the Minister announced plans that all greenfield developments of more than 150 homes would have to be sent on to the DETR for appraisal, a measure that can only increase the costs and delay in processing applications.
Pierre Williams, spokesman for the House Builders Federation, said: House builders have clearly shown their enthusiasm to increase brownfield use and ensure an urban renaissance. Many of the biggest builders are beating the governments 60 per cent brownfield target and the industry as a whole is on the threshold of the governments target. Unfortunately, local authorities and indeed the wider environmental agenda have been hijacked by nimbyism.
This decision to refer developments to the DETR will achieve nothing other than to further increase expense and delay in the already diabolical planning process.