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Last Updated: Friday, 15 October, 2004, 05:11 GMT 06:11 UK
Plans for half a million new homes
Map
There may be a shortage of housing stock in England but controversial plans to build half a million new homes in the east and south of England could have a serious knock-on effect.

The East of England Rural Assembly will give its verdict today which would see new developments springing up from Norfolk to Buckinghamshire and as far south as the Essex/Kent gateway along the Thames.

The government says are vital to satisfy demand for affordable housing.

The most concentrated building would be in corridors along the M1 and M11.

  • Breakfast's Julia Botfield reported live from Cambridgeshire

  • Click on the link above to see her report

    Concerns

    There are serious concerns about the effect on wildlife, roads and local services.

    Planners are expected to reject proposals for a further 18,000 homes between Stansted and Cambridge.

    The project, to build more new properties than the existing number in Bedfordshire and Suffolk, would be the biggest housing development since World War II.

    People are very frightened indeed about what might come out of all this
    Cllr Richard Thake

    Areas expected to take the brunt of it include a 'growth corridor' from Peterborough through Cambridge, Stevenage and Harlow and well as Milton Keynes and the Thames Gateway Development.

    The plans have sparked opposition from environmentalists and unease among residents, which is likely to grow as individual plots are earmarked for new towns and roads.

    North Hertfordshire Conservative councillor Richard Thake says the government is riding roughshod over local objections to push through the plans, which he believes will have a devastating effect on the area.

    He told the BBC: "The process is undemocratic. They maintain consultation is taking place but it's consultation which is very very carefully selected.

    "The assembly itself is a nominated assembly, with stakeholder groups of various interests including developer interests."

    Mr Thake, who sits on the assembly's regional planning panel, said: "Every time we, as local authority members, say that we wish to air these proposals with our electors, we're told that this is work in progress, that the final figures will not be delivered until November and that we're not at liberty to discuss site specific proposals, which of course is sending hares running all over the place.
    New home building
    Planned new homes could put pressure on infrastructure

    "People are very frightened indeed about what might come out of all this."

    On Thursday, a report by consultants Levett-Therivel warned development on such a large scale would cause a water crisis, threaten landscapes and destroy wildlife.

    But Alan Moore, head of Regional Planning and Transport, said "severe affordability problems" for first time buyers in the region had to be addressed. "We also have to face up to demographic and economic problems," he added.

    It said the heavily populated counties of Essex and Hertfordshire, in particular, lacked the infrastructure to cope with so many new homes.

    If the committee meeting of the East of England Regional Assembly backs the plans on Friday they would then have to be ratified by the full assembly on 5 November, before going to a public inquiry.



  • BBC NEWS: VIDEO AND AUDIO
    The case for and against devlopment
    Julia Botfield reports from Foxton, Cambridgeshire



    SEE ALSO:
    House plans 'threaten' lifestyle
    30 Jul 04  |  England
    Peterborough earmarked for growth
    03 Feb 04  |  Cambridgeshire
    Anger over new homes plans
    05 Feb 03  |  England


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