Fight to Protect District's Rural Character

9.11.38pm UTC (GMT +0000) Tue 19th Feb 2008

Uttlesford Conservatives' proposed new town in Elsenham and Henham.

Uttlesford District Council will continue to do all it can to protect the rural character of the area despite a "disappointing" response from Government Minister Hazel Blears on housing growth plans.

The council's group leaders from the district council met Ms Blears, the Secretary of State for Communities, at Westminster in December to argue to the case for a lower allocation of homes to be built in Uttlesford.

Under the current growth proposals for the East of England, the council is required to find space for an additional 4,200 homes on top of those which already have planning permission or have been included in previous plans. The council believes this figure is too high and risks permanently damaging the character of the district. It is continuing to fight for a lower settlement.

Ms Blears has now written to the council leader, Conservative Cllr Jim Ketteridge, stating she is "unable to comment directly on the current growth proposals in the East of England".

Cllr Peter Wilcock, Liberal Democrat Group Leader, said: "I am against development that allows the Government to place shortfalls from other areas of the South East into our district, with large quantities of four-bedroom executive houses which the developers favour to maximise their profit, but I am in favour of maximising the number of homes that are affordable to local people, that could live and work locally, through shared equity and social renting."

"I support the Government Bill, which will implement proposals to introduce a new charge, entitled the Community Infrastructure Levy, to enable local authorities to secure a bigger contribution from developers towards the costs of infrastructure on small sites as well as large and agree with the statement from the Communities and Local Government that everyone should have the opportunity to rent or buy a decent home at a price they can afford, in a place where they want to live and work."