This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/society/2013/aug/25/green-belt-housing-doubles-claim

The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Green belt housing 'doubles in a year' Green belt housing 'doubles in a year'
(about 7 hours later)
The number of houses planned for green belt land has nearly doubled over the past year, according to the latest figures. The number of houses planned for green belt land has nearly doubled over the past year, according to the Campaign to Protect Rural England.
One hundred and fifty thousand homes and 1,000 hectares of mines and commercial premises are being proposed for the areas, research by the Campaign to Protect Rural England found. The charity found that 150,000 homes, mines and commercial premises covering 1,000 hectares (2,470 acres) are proposed. Previous analysis suggested just 81,000 homes were planned, in August 2012.
Previous analysis suggested just 81,000 homes were planned in August 2012. The CPRE said the figures raised serious concerns about whether ministers were keeping their promises to safeguard the green belt. Spokesman Paul Miner said: "The extent to which the threat is growing – nearly doubling in a year – is deeply worrying. It should not be necessary to build on green belt land when there is enough brownfield land available for 1.5m new homes.
The group said the figures raised serious concerns about whether ministers were keeping their promises to safeguard the green belt. "Green belts prevent urban sprawl and are the green lungs of many of our largest, or most historic, towns and cities. Ministers now need to go further. Hard decisions are needed to help ensure both urban regeneration and protection of the green belt."
A spokesman, Paul Miner, said: "The extent to which the threat is growing – nearly doubling in a year – is deeply worrying. The housing minister, Mark Prisk, said: "This government has explicitly stated it will maintain green belt protections. The green belt provides a valuable role in protecting against urban sprawl and providing a green lung around our towns and cities.
"It should not be necessary to build on green belt land when there is enough brownfield land available for a million and a half new homes.
"Green belts prevent urban sprawl and are the green lungs of many of our largest or most historic towns and cities.
"Ministers now need to go further. Hard decisions are needed to help ensure both urban regeneration and protection of the green belt."
The housing minister Mark Prisk said: "This government has explicitly stated it will maintain green belt protections. The green belt provides a valuable role in protecting against urban sprawl and providing a green lung around our towns and cities.
"We have increased green belt protections by abolishing every single one of the last government's top-down regional strategies that sought to delete the green belt in 30 areas – local plans are now sovereign."We have increased green belt protections by abolishing every single one of the last government's top-down regional strategies that sought to delete the green belt in 30 areas – local plans are now sovereign.
"We have also made it clear that the green belt is an inappropriate place for Traveller sites and waste facilities, which will prevent speculative applications."We have also made it clear that the green belt is an inappropriate place for Traveller sites and waste facilities, which will prevent speculative applications.
"In addition, the government is also selling off surplus public sector brownfield land and has extended permitted development rights on developed brownfield sites to help bring thousands of empty and underused buildings back into use." "In addition, the government is also selling off surplus public-sector brownfield land and has extended permitted development rights on developed brownfield sites to help bring thousands of empty and underused buildings back into use."