Garden villages needed to remedy affordability in the South West say TCPA » Housing » 24dash.com

At a seminar in Exeter today leading housing and planning experts the Town and Country Planning Association (TCPA) call for eco-towns proposed for the South-West to rediscover the qualities of the Garden Suburbs and Garden Villages of a hundred years ago to provide the attractive and sustainable environments people want.

In its submission to the Lib Dem Truro MP, Matthew Taylor who is carrying out a review for the Prime Minister on rural economy and affordable housing, the charity states: “Homes with gardens attract people who would otherwise flee to further flung rural locations.

“Green space is not only important in creating desirable housing, it is also integral to more environmental design.

“Fundamental to housing provision is the creation of proper neighbourhood centres and not urban deserts. A renaissance in garden suburbs would counter the drain to the countryside.”

The charity calls for the garden suburb and garden village principles to be applied to new settlements, including eco-towns as well as to urban extensions particularly in smaller towns with little housing choice on offer.

The TCPA regional event highlights the case for housing growth and new eco-towns in the South-West generally, given the urgent need to the address the rural affordability crisis in the region. 

TCPA Chief Executive Gideon Amos: “Rural areas have particular challenges, such as higher than average house prices combined with lower than average wages due to high demand from an aspiration to live in the countryside.

“There is also a very constrained supply of social or low cost housing.

“The housing provided should offer a variety of tenure and not create mono-communities.

“There is a massive housing shortage, with rural communities in particular suffering from a disproportionate uplift in housing value in relation to wages due to the worth put on countryside living that therefore sees many people priced out of rural communities.”

The TCPA also supports the principles of green belts but points out that they are too often run down and of poor environmental quality.

It points out that local communities rightly have the ability to redraw green belt boundaries and should continue to be allowed to do so provided the concept of a permanent belt remains intact.

As the first body to campaign for rural or green belts in 1919 the Association believes they should complement local communities.

The TCPA adds in its response to the Matthew Taylor Review that green belts should meet higher environmental sustainability standards: “Green belts must become eco-belts, providing a seed bed for the new renewable energy and similar developments that we shall need to address climate change and energy needs.

“The TCPA has always supported local determination and flexibility in green belt boundaries to ensure they continue to be fit for purpose locally and regionally.”

Issues around rural affordability and eco-towns in the South-West region will be discussed at today’s seminar in Exeter.

The eco-town seminar roadshow is being run by the TCPA in partnership with CLG, with the Academy for Sustainable Communities (ASC).

The programme aims to assist, local authorities, development agencies and professionals working in delivery agencies and consultancies, as well as elected members and community groups, in the delivery of eco-towns and more widely in the delivery of truly sustainable housing growth.