Economic
development is crucial to the well being of everyone in the West
Midlands, but it is important to get the right development in the
right place. It is also important that economic development is seen
in the wider context of environmental and social goals and that
we address the impact of new development on Climate Change.
West
Midlands CPRE believes we should seek for as much new industrial
development to go on brownfield sites as possible. As industry modernises
many vacant sites become available. Some of these should be used
to meet housing needs, some to provide accessible open space, but
we need to ensure that are enough left to support new industries.
Large
brownfield sites are fewer so it is important we maximise their
use and are more careful before we hand them over for other uses.
We
should also be seeking to create new opportunities in our cities
to support regeneration.
CPRE
is opposed to widescale development of new green field sites. We
are particularly concerned about the proliferation of large businesses
parks in the region and the growth of unsustainable large scale
warehouse sites in the middle of the countryside.
We
are also concerned at the growth of green field office developments
and out of town shopping centres. We would like to see more office
development targeted at town centres or on public transport routes.
We would also like to see out of town shopping developments continue
to be heavily restricted.
In
rural areas the economy is very varied and often made up of small
scale businesses. We believe it is important that farming and other
land industries continue to prosper, while taking responsibility
for their impact on the beauty of the countryside.
We
also believe there needs to be more support for small scale local
business development. Market Towns also play a key role in supporting
the rural economy. It is important that economic development respects
the beauty and tranquillity of rural areas and is undertaken in
the wider context of regenerating rural communities.
The
Regional Economic Strategy sets out an economic strategy for the
region but the
Regional Spatial Strategy determines where development should go.
Our responses to these stress the need for economic development
to be sustainable, close to where people live and predominantly
on brownfield sites.
05.09.07 |
