CPRE Hampshire comments at end of Examination in Public into the South East Plan

As the Examination in Public draws to a close, representatives of the Campaign to Protect Rural England are reflecting on the 'marathon' process of sittings and the impact that their involvement in the debate will have had.

Thanks to timely, articulate responses from the outset, CPRE has been invited to participate more than any other body from the voluntary sector. Time and again it has been the voice that speaks for quality of life issues, while others have ground the axe for commercial growth and commensurate house building, all in the name of expanding the role of the South East as the engine of the UK economy.

Under the experienced leadership of the Chairman of CPRE South East, Christine Drury, county branch chairmen (including CPRE Hampshire's chairman, Christopher Napier) and many other campaigning volunteers have contributed to CPRE's own South East Plan discussions and as invited participants at many of the public sessions of the EIP.

Edward Dawson, the South-East regional director who has led for CPRE in most discussions, said:

"I think we have had a big impact. The Panel seemed grateful for CPRE's enthusiastic and positive contributions. We have tried to be very open-minded and to help the Panel understand many issues covering the environment, as well as housing, economy and 'smart growth'. We hope that the Panel will take a position that delivers most of what is positive in the South East Plan without bending too far towards government's demand for more homes at all costs."

Sensitive Development

CPRE aims to protect the countryside by campaigning for development only where there is a proven need, building on brownfield in place of greenfield, with good design and careful consideration of density and regard to infrastructure. A multitude of issues have been addressed, including the importance of strategic gaps, the need to keep the integrity of greenbelt, water resources and much more.

CPRE Hampshire has been to the fore in this debate. Branch Chairman, Christopher Napier primarily expressed the need to consider rural Hampshire, and particularly its designated landscapes such as the New Forest and the South Downs, cautioning against the agenda of the lobbyists for the South Hampshire Sub-region, determined to expand the cities and urban hinterland of the Solent area.

SHUV takes on PUSH

CPRE's Caroline Dibden and colleagues took on the mighty "Partnership for Urban South Hampshire", PUSH, by co-ordinating like-minded opponents as SHUV "South Hampshire's Unheard Voices". This gave environmentalists another place at the table to counter a concordat of local authorities and developers that has been more in evidence in South Hampshire than elsewhere in the county. Claire Smith of SHUV said:

"I felt satisfied that we had managed to get all of our points across, and one of our main achievements is that more people are aware of the new planning process."

'Smart Growth'

An issue right across the region is the purported lack of housing in response to the potential number of jobs. 'Smart Growth' is the buzzword that sums up the idea that an increase in the value of output per person means that job numbers don't need to grow at the same rate. This is close to CPRE hearts, since more people in the workforce imply more homes; but the smarter the economic growth, the less the demand for houses on greenfield sites.

Hugh Sheppard of CPRE's Hart & Rushmoor district group presented a briefing paper to the Panel that showed that radical changes in the operation of pensions schemes, allied to longevity is already having an effect on 'longer working lives'. People over the age of 50 who are still working usually already have their own homes, and as the percentage of these people working rises, so the government's reasoning behind building for new homes in line with economic growth loses momentum.

- Ends -

CPRE/H/103

Notes to editors

The Campaign to Protect Rural England, Hampshire Branch (CPRE Hampshire) is a registered charity and a branch of the national CPRE charity.

CPRE Hampshire strives to promote the beauty, tranquility and diversity of the countryside of Hampshire by the sustainable use of land and other resources in town and country, and encouraging the biodiversity and well-being of rural communities.

For membership information on CPRE, please contact:
Pam Mason, administrator, CPRE Hampshire
Tel: 01962 843655
Email:admin@cprehampshire.org.uk

For all media enquiries, please contact:
Keren Burney, media & communications officer, CPRE Hampshire
Tel: 01730 894123   Mobile: 07876 780065
Email: kburney000@aol.com

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