Green fields in the South East are in danger from housebuilders thanks to new Government rules, says the South East England Regional Assembly's Planning Committee.

New rules in Planning Policy Statement 3 on Housing (PPS3) prevent local authorities from relying on unexpected 'windfall' sites when planning where new homes will be built, even though they are an important source of land. This will undermine both local authorities' planning role and Assembly targets for 60% of development on previously used land, as set out in the region's 20 year planning vision – the South East Plan.

The Assembly's Planning Committee argues that PPS3 also contradicts other Government policies which encourage building in urban areas and on previously used (brownfield) land. The new housing rules encourage councils to use greenfield land as a reserve for new homes and also indicate councils can no longer rely on 'windfalls' (land that is not allocated in development plans but could be used).

Windfall sites such as small industrial sites, car parks or bus depots often become available for housing after development plans are written, but an allowance for such sites can no longer be built into councils' plans.

Councils must therefore identify extra greenfield land for potential housing, but once it is identified – even as a reserve site – Planning Inquiry Inspectors will bring it forward for development. This will undermine councils' role in planning for their areas' needs and will use greenfield land for housing unnecessarily.

Assembly Regional Planning Committee Chairman, Cllr Christine Field, said: "The Assembly finds it an unacceptable way of using valuable greenfield land. It should be an exception not the rule. Many of our councils will struggle to find other land that is suitable for new homes so they are perversely encouraged to use greenfield land. This will make it more difficult to deliver sustainable communities."

Contacts

Lesley van Dijk, Assembly PR Executive - 01483 555223

Heather Bolton, Assembly Communications Director - 01483 555220

Notes to editors:

1. The South East England Regional Assembly is the "voluntary regional chamber" for the South East. It was established in January 1999 to give a representative voice to the South East region, which covers Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, East and West Sussex, Hampshire, Isle of Wight, Kent, Oxfordshire, and Surrey.
2. The Regional Assembly is made up of 112 members including elected councillors nominated by the region's local authorities and 37 representatives from other sectors of the community (including business, trades unions, education, housing, health, sports, culture, tourism, faith groups, environmental, community and voluntary organisations) as well as the New Forest National Park Authority.
3. The Assembly has four key roles:
• Advocacy – pressing the South East’s interests in London and Brussels.
• Accountability – scrutinising the plans and performance of regional bodies such as SEEDA to align the region’s priorities.
• Regional planning – preparing and delivering the South East Plan - the 20-year statutory plan for the region that sets the framework for the sustainable development of the South East.
• Regional policy – advising Government on the co-ordination of regional strategies and spending priorities for housing, transport, planning and economic development to improve the impact of public expenditure.

Our vision is for a distinctive, outward-looking, accessible region of prosperous, sustainable communities, with a high quality of life and environment.

Last updated: 21 August 2007