03 September 2004
Housing leaders are urging the government to stand up to the 'well-funded voice of Nimbyism', which they warn is threatening plans to build more affordable homes.
The National Housing Federation has written to Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott outlining its fears and calling on him to 'rebut the myths' peddled by opponents of the policy.
NHF chief executive Jim Coulter says in his letter, dated September 1, that 'scaremongering' by Nimbys – which stands for 'not in my backyard' – is putting at risk housing developments in areas of high demand.
He says the suggestion that ministers and the housing sector want to 'concrete over the countryside' must be challenged forcefully.
'In the run-up to the next general election it would be all too easy to give too much credence to this agenda. In our view, it needs a more direct and public challenge.'
If this does not happen, Coulter warns, dangerous misconceptions over land use may derail plans for mixed neighbourhoods and the government's flagship Sustainable Communities plan.
He says ministers must tackle the main arguments of the Nimby lobby. He rejects as groundless the fear that greenbelt land is disappearing.
'Nearly 90% of Britain's land mass is undeveloped. Kate Barker in her recent report said that “under the extreme assumption that all of the additional build were carried out in the Southeast, an additional 120,000 homes per year would take 0.75% of the total regional land area”.'
Coulter also rejects the suggestion that housing demand could be met by reusing empty homes. 'Without more affordable homes, the Southeast, for example, will continue to suffer a shortage of key workers and skilled manual workers,' he adds.
PFsep2004
