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National Trust against homes plan National Trust against homes plan
(about 2 hours later)
The National Trust is to set itself up in direct opposition to the Government's house building programme.The National Trust is to set itself up in direct opposition to the Government's house building programme.
Gordon Brown has pledged 3m more homes by 2020 to tackle the housing crisis.Gordon Brown has pledged 3m more homes by 2020 to tackle the housing crisis.
But the Chairman of the Trust is expected to tell the organisation's AGM later that this scale of development would destroy the countryside.But the Chairman of the Trust is expected to tell the organisation's AGM later that this scale of development would destroy the countryside.
Sir William Proby will suggest the Trust intervenes in planning inquiries and buy greenfield land to protect it from house building.Sir William Proby will suggest the Trust intervenes in planning inquiries and buy greenfield land to protect it from house building.
The Government insists that green-belt land is safe. The government insists that green-belt land is safe.
It says the boom in house building would take place on brownfield sites and areas owned by the public sector.It says the boom in house building would take place on brownfield sites and areas owned by the public sector.
Planning systemPlanning system
But Sir William is expected to tell the meeting in London that the building programme would amount to a gradual destruction of the countryside.But Sir William is expected to tell the meeting in London that the building programme would amount to a gradual destruction of the countryside.
His comments will come a week after an independent body set up to advise ministers on new homes, said that even the government's projected 3m figure would not be enough to meet the demand for new homes.His comments will come a week after an independent body set up to advise ministers on new homes, said that even the government's projected 3m figure would not be enough to meet the demand for new homes.
I am not sure the value of the spiritual side and the beauty of landscape ... is taken into account Sir William Proby, National Trust chairmanI am not sure the value of the spiritual side and the beauty of landscape ... is taken into account Sir William Proby, National Trust chairman
Sir William will ask those at the meeting for suggestions on where the new homes should be built.Sir William will ask those at the meeting for suggestions on where the new homes should be built.
He is also expected to ask members if The National Trust, which has an annual income of £350m, should buy up green-belt areas to protect them or rely on the planning system to do so.He is also expected to ask members if The National Trust, which has an annual income of £350m, should buy up green-belt areas to protect them or rely on the planning system to do so.
"In the planning process I am not sure the value of the spiritual side and the beauty of landscape and its importance on the quality of life rather than the financial gain is taken into account," Sir William said."In the planning process I am not sure the value of the spiritual side and the beauty of landscape and its importance on the quality of life rather than the financial gain is taken into account," Sir William said.
GOVERNMENT HOUSING POLICIES Housing market renewal scheme to restore sustainable communities to parts of the North and Midlands Home Information Packs being introducedAll social housing must meet the 'decent homes standard'100,000 homes in "carbon neutral" communities planned for old industrial sitesNew HomeBuy scheme enables social tenants, key workers and other first time buyers to buy share of a homeGOVERNMENT HOUSING POLICIES Housing market renewal scheme to restore sustainable communities to parts of the North and Midlands Home Information Packs being introducedAll social housing must meet the 'decent homes standard'100,000 homes in "carbon neutral" communities planned for old industrial sitesNew HomeBuy scheme enables social tenants, key workers and other first time buyers to buy share of a home
The National Trust has plans to challenge new developments and intervene in planning inquiries, even if it is not directly involved with the land being targeted for development.The National Trust has plans to challenge new developments and intervene in planning inquiries, even if it is not directly involved with the land being targeted for development.
The move echoes the earliest origins of the organisation, which was partly inspired by an unsuccessful 19th century campaign to preserve for public use fields around Swiss Cottage in north-west London.The move echoes the earliest origins of the organisation, which was partly inspired by an unsuccessful 19th century campaign to preserve for public use fields around Swiss Cottage in north-west London.
The National Trust has 3.5m members, making it one of Europe's biggest membership organisation.The National Trust has 3.5m members, making it one of Europe's biggest membership organisation.
It owns some 250,000 hectares of countryside and 700 miles of British coastline.It owns some 250,000 hectares of countryside and 700 miles of British coastline.
The Government said Sir William's analysis is flawed and that he did not fully understand the planning restrictions that are in place to protect green-belt land. The government said Sir William's analysis is flawed and that he did not fully understand the planning restrictions that are in place to protect green-belt land.