In January
the Regional Assembly submitted its Planning Blueprint for the next
twenty years which included a massive increase in housing building
in the region which threatened many rural communities (over 365,000
net by 2026).
The
Government wants them to build between 408,000 and 460,000 houses
and Baroness Andrews has written to the Assembly to tell them so.
She
has also told them that some important principles, such as promoting
urban regeneration could be expendable to achieve that.
Because
it will be largely market housing, it will also not mean the proportion
of much needed affordable housing will increase.
Not
only would this lead to loss of countryside and green belt but many
of the houses would be likely to be bolted onto existing market
towns, adding to congestion problems and increasing commuting into
the major conurbations.
They
are also promoting plans for up to six new massive mega-depot warehousing
villages (Regional Logistics Sites in the jargon) which would be
huge blots on the landscape, probably six storeys high and lit all
day And night, which would send lorries across the whole country.
What you can do
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The consultation on the RSS has been extended until 8th December
2008. You can find more details at wmra.gov.uk
including the proposed housing allocations for the local authority
where you live.
You
can write to the Regional Assembly expressing concern about
the impact of so much housing on the countryside at:
Regional Partnership Centre
Albert House
Quay Place
92 - 93 Edward Street
Birmingham
B1 2RA
You can also write to your local MP asking him or her to put
pressure on the Government to rethink its obsession with high
housing numbers and build the house we know we need in the
areas we need them in.
If
you don’t know your MP you can find him/her via
http://www.upmystreet.com/commons/l/
(Note: Although it has been announced that Regional Assemblies
will be wound up, that will not take place until 2010, so
they remain in charge of this key process)
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