Fears over building expansion in Yorkshire

Tuesday, 2 October 2007 12:00 AM

The Campaign for the Protection of Rural England (CPRE) today expressed concerns over the number of proposed housing projects in the Yorkshire region.

The government recently announced a commitment to build 240,000 new homes a year for the next decade and but there is concern over the location of the new properties.

Under the plans Yorkshire and Humber must accommodate 22,140 new homes annually, equating to nearly half a million new homes in the next 20 years.

This is a vast increase on the developments proposed by the Yorkshire and the Humber Regional Assembly, and building now possesses a threat to greenbelt land in west Yorkshire, according to the CPRE.

There are fear developers will select prime greenbelt sites to meet market demand.

Brownfield sites could also be neglected under the proposals, along with the need for social housing, fears the CPRE.

In addition to these housing concerns, the new roads and associated infrastructure - including new schools, hospitals, shops and community facilities - also pose a threat to the natural landscape.

"This would be an exorbitant price to pay for meeting the government's housing requirements. They say they want brownfield sites used first and have recently reaffirmed support for the greenbelt," commented Gill Stride, CPRE's policy officer for Yorkshire and the Humber.

"But if the hike in housing numbers is pushed through, these objectives will be fatally undermined, giving way to another wave of urban sprawl, long-distance commuting and congestion - the very last thing Yorkshire and the Humber needs.

"We must be sure the scale of development is genuinely needed, is built in the most suitable locations, where it can contribute to urban renewal, and that the environment has the capacity to accommodate it."

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