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CPRE East of England |
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News and Press Releases
Press Release Thursday 24 June 2010 Contact: A recent report by the Homes and Communities Agency confirms that the East of England has seen a 20 percent increase on last year’s total number of housing completions funded via the National Affordable Housing Programme. “CPRE has long been an advocate for well planed and situated development and the increase in affordable housing in the East of England is to be applauded. However, there is still a desperate shortage of affordable housing in the region – an area with some of the most expensive housing in the whole country. The average house price in the region in 2008 was Ł225,967 – still nearly 11 times average regional income. [1] “There remains a huge demand for affordable homes, particularly in rural areas. In these times of austerity and budget cuts CPRE is urging the government to remember this need and to keep funding rural affordable housing. Without this much needed funding, the cost of living in the East of England may prove too high for those who grow up here and want to remain in the countryside they love.” Note to Editors:
THE END OF In launching its plan for a ‘Big Society’ the new coalition government has confirmed that it will abolish Regional Spatial Strategies (essentially regional planning) and will return decision-making powers on housing and planning to local councils. Jeremy Hill, Regional Policy Officer for the Campaign to Protect Rural England in the East of England, said: “Over the last 10 years we have seen central government impose enormous targets for new homes to be built in the East of England – often overriding views of the people who live here and with seemingly limited regard for the environment. We welcome the new government’s commitment to abolish Regional Spatial Strategies and with it centrally imposed and undemocratic targets for house-building in the East of England. At this stage it remains unclear what the new government intends to put in its place. The jury will be out until we see what they come up with but we do believe there is a need for strategic planning across local-authority boundaries to help coordinate – but not impose – development, infrastructure and services. 6 April 2010 TIME TO VOTE FOR OUR COUNTRYSIDE The East of England’s new policy officer for the Campaign to Protect Rural England hit the ground running today by calling on all prospective candidates to sign up the CPRE's countryside manifesto. Jeremy Hill, who has worked in property and as a city solicitor, highlighted the many threats being faced by the countryside: I feel passionately about our beautiful countryside in the East of England. I am also very aware of the many threats it faces, from urban sprawl to pollution and climate change, and how we must rise to meet these challenges. Whoever wins the election must not be allowed to forget just how important our countryside is. That’s why all candidates should sign up to our Countryside Manifesto.”
For more information or to arrange interviews: Contact: Jeremy Hill, CPRE East of 16 January 2009 GROWTH LEVELS “FRIGHTENING” Countryside campaigners say the new settlements in a study for the East of England Regional Assembly are unnecessary and would cause irreversible damage to the environment. The Campaign to Protect Rural England says the region is pushing for unnecessary growth which would have a far-reaching and extremely damaging impact on the quality of life for those who live and work in the region. Mr Traverse-Healy says any new settlements will need services such as new roads, water, schools, hospitals, all of which will contribute to even greater loss and damage to the countryside. For further information or to arrange interviews, please contact: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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