Rics: CPRE pander to the vested interests

The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (Rics) has launched a scathing attack on the Campaign for the Protection of Rural England (CPRE) following the release of research show the majority of the public were opposed to government home building schemes.

CPRE research finds some 53 per cent of the UK public opposed the government's plans to build three million new homes by 2020.

Furthermore, up to 46 per cent of those questioned by ICM on behalf CPRE think the additional homes will prove detrimental to existing communities, with 50 per cent claiming the government and property developers will be the real winners.

However, the findings have come under sharp attack from Rics.

"Today’s survey by the CPRE adds nothing constructive to discussions over government housebuilding plans and simply panders to the vested interests of those who own expensive property in the countryside," said Rics public policy officer, James Rowlands.

"Housing a growing population is a challenge that faces the country as a whole not just those who live in urban areas.

While acknowledging new construction is only part of the solution, Rics argues building in the countryside is legitimate.

"Bringing empty homes back into use and building on brownfield sites should be the first step in meeting this challenge, sensible, well managed development on greenfield sites is also part of the solution," continued Mr Rowlands.

"Simply preventing development in the countryside will do nothing to ease the serious problems faced by first time buyers and young families looking for bigger homes."

CPRE also finds 77 per cent of Brits approve of government plans to bring some of 700,000 empty properties in the UK back into use.

Defending the group's findings CPRE's senior planner, Kaye Gordon, said: "This survey shows the public would show more sympathy towards the government’s proposals if housebuilding was accompanied by strong measures to tackle urban dereliction, and bring back into use empty properties.

"Welcome progress has been made, with around three quarters of new homes now built on brownfield land, but more is needed."

However, the CPRE has also come under attack from the House Builders Federation (HBF).

"Claiming public opposition to housebuilding targets does absolutely nothing to ease the plight of hard-pressed first-time buyers or those without a home at all – the very people whose voice is not heard enough.," said Stewart Baseley, executive chairman of the HBF.

"England is facing a shortfall of over 60,000 homes per year, and affordability is stretched to the limit. The only solution is to increase the current rate of housebuilding in order to keep pace with demand."