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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
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| Open land can solve housing shortage - minister | Open land can solve housing shortage - minister |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| Article written by Allegra Stratton Political editor, BBC Newsnight | |
| Increasing the amount of developed land by a third would address the housing shortage, according to Planning Minister Nick Boles. | Increasing the amount of developed land by a third would address the housing shortage, according to Planning Minister Nick Boles. |
| He told BBC Newsnight building on another 2-3% of the land in England - bringing the total to about 12% - would "solve the housing problem." | He told BBC Newsnight building on another 2-3% of the land in England - bringing the total to about 12% - would "solve the housing problem." |
| Mr Boles said open land would be built on in exchange for commitments to defend greenbelt spaces. | Mr Boles said open land would be built on in exchange for commitments to defend greenbelt spaces. |
| He called for "beautiful" housing that was sensitive to its local area. | He called for "beautiful" housing that was sensitive to its local area. |
| In his first interview about his portfolio since he entered government, Mr Boles has reopened the debate over how much more housing Britain needs and where. | In his first interview about his portfolio since he entered government, Mr Boles has reopened the debate over how much more housing Britain needs and where. |
| Describing current housebuilding as "ugly rubbish", he argued that improved design might persuade local communities currently opposed to more development to support further building. | Describing current housebuilding as "ugly rubbish", he argued that improved design might persuade local communities currently opposed to more development to support further building. |
| "The built environment can be more beautiful than nature and we shouldn't obsess about the fact that the only landscapes that are beautiful are open - sometimes buildings are better," he said. | "The built environment can be more beautiful than nature and we shouldn't obsess about the fact that the only landscapes that are beautiful are open - sometimes buildings are better," he said. |
| To this end, the minister says that new housing will not be on the greenbelt, but he does say that open land will be targeted. | To this end, the minister says that new housing will not be on the greenbelt, but he does say that open land will be targeted. |
| "We're going to protect the greenbelt but if people want to have housing for their kids they have to accept we need to build more on some open land. | "We're going to protect the greenbelt but if people want to have housing for their kids they have to accept we need to build more on some open land. |
| "In the UK and England at the moment we've got about 9% of land developed. All we need to do is build on another 2-3% of land and we'll have solved a housing problem." | "In the UK and England at the moment we've got about 9% of land developed. All we need to do is build on another 2-3% of land and we'll have solved a housing problem." |
| Mr Boles also told Newsnight that having a house with a garden was a "basic moral right, like healthcare and education". | Mr Boles also told Newsnight that having a house with a garden was a "basic moral right, like healthcare and education". |
| "There's a right to a home with a little bit of ground around it to bring your family up in," he said. | "There's a right to a home with a little bit of ground around it to bring your family up in," he said. |
| Controversial proposals | Controversial proposals |
| After a battle over planning reform, in the spring the government and a range of opponents appeared to reach a truce. Now Mr Boles has set out what the government's proposals will entail. | After a battle over planning reform, in the spring the government and a range of opponents appeared to reach a truce. Now Mr Boles has set out what the government's proposals will entail. |
| He was made planning minister by David Cameron in the September reshuffle and is a well-known proponent of liberalising planning regulations in Britain. | He was made planning minister by David Cameron in the September reshuffle and is a well-known proponent of liberalising planning regulations in Britain. |
| Before his appointment, in a speech to Tory colleagues, he had described opponents of the government's planning reforms as "scaremongering Luddites". | Before his appointment, in a speech to Tory colleagues, he had described opponents of the government's planning reforms as "scaremongering Luddites". |
| But his plans will be controversial with his Conservative colleagues. | But his plans will be controversial with his Conservative colleagues. |
| In recent weeks, Tory MP Nadhim Zahawi has reacted angrily to the adjudication by Secretary of State for Communities Eric Pickles, who oversees planning, to give the go-ahead to a greenfield development on the edge of Stratford-upon-Avon. | In recent weeks, Tory MP Nadhim Zahawi has reacted angrily to the adjudication by Secretary of State for Communities Eric Pickles, who oversees planning, to give the go-ahead to a greenfield development on the edge of Stratford-upon-Avon. |
| Persuasion | Persuasion |
| There was also local unhappiness in Winchester when Mr Pickles approved a development at Barton Farm. | There was also local unhappiness in Winchester when Mr Pickles approved a development at Barton Farm. |
| "It's my job to make the arguments to these people that if they carry on writing letters, their kids are never going to get a place with a garden to bring up their grandkids," said Mr Boles. | "It's my job to make the arguments to these people that if they carry on writing letters, their kids are never going to get a place with a garden to bring up their grandkids," said Mr Boles. |
| "I accept we haven't been able to persuade them. I think it would be easier if we could persuade them that the new development would be beautiful." | "I accept we haven't been able to persuade them. I think it would be easier if we could persuade them that the new development would be beautiful." |
| Talking about the historic town of Stamford, situated in his own Lincolnshire constituency, he said: "Local tradespeople... decided they wanted to build nice places to live. | Talking about the historic town of Stamford, situated in his own Lincolnshire constituency, he said: "Local tradespeople... decided they wanted to build nice places to live. |
| "We've somehow forgotten to do that, which is why people object to us building on open farm and land - they build ugly rubbish. If we remember to build places like Stamford, people won't mind us building in fields." | "We've somehow forgotten to do that, which is why people object to us building on open farm and land - they build ugly rubbish. If we remember to build places like Stamford, people won't mind us building in fields." |
| Watch Newsnight's Allegra Stratton's report on Wednesday, 28 November, 2012 at 22:30 GMT on BBC Two or watch afterwards on BBC iPlayer. | Watch Newsnight's Allegra Stratton's report on Wednesday, 28 November, 2012 at 22:30 GMT on BBC Two or watch afterwards on BBC iPlayer. |