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National Trust against homes plan National Trust against homes plan
(10 minutes later)
The National Trust is to set itself up in direct opposition to the government's house building programme. The National Trust is to set itself up in direct opposition to the government's house-building programme.
Prime Minister Gordon Brown has pledged to build three million more homes by 2020 to tackle the housing crisis.Prime Minister Gordon Brown has pledged to build three million more homes by 2020 to tackle the housing crisis.
But the chairman of the National Trust will tell the organisation's AGM later this would destroy the countryside.But the chairman of the National Trust will tell the organisation's AGM later this would destroy the countryside.
Sir William Proby will suggest the Trust intervenes in planning inquiries and buy greenfield land to protect it from house building. Sir William Proby will suggest the Trust intervenes in planning inquiries and buys greenfield land to protect it from house building.
The government insists green-belt land is safe.The government insists green-belt land is safe.
It says the boom in house building would take place on brownfield sites and areas owned by the public sector.It says the boom in house building would take place on brownfield sites and areas owned by the public sector.
Planning systemPlanning system
Sir William told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "We're not saying no development ever on the greenbelt. Far from it.Sir William told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "We're not saying no development ever on the greenbelt. Far from it.
"But what we are saying is that before we embark upon building on this scale we need to think more carefully about the value of the spaces we're going to lose because once these have gone, it's gone forever. It's irrevocable.""But what we are saying is that before we embark upon building on this scale we need to think more carefully about the value of the spaces we're going to lose because once these have gone, it's gone forever. It's irrevocable."
But Sir William will tell the meeting in London that the building programme would amount to a gradual destruction of the countryside. But Sir William will tell the meeting in London the building programme would amount to a gradual destruction of the countryside.
His comments come a week after an independent body set up to advise ministers on new homes, said that even the government's projected three million figure would not be enough to meet the demand for new homes. His comments come a week after an independent body set up to advise ministers on new homes said that even the government's projected three million figure would not be enough to meet the demand for new homes.
Sir William will ask the meeting for suggestions on where the new homes should be built.Sir William will ask the meeting for suggestions on where the new homes should be built.
He is also expected to ask members if The National Trust, which has an annual income of £350m, should buy up green-belt areas to protect them or rely on the planning system to do so.He is also expected to ask members if The National Trust, which has an annual income of £350m, should buy up green-belt areas to protect them or rely on the planning system to do so.
GOVERNMENT HOUSING POLICIES Housing market renewal scheme to restore sustainable communities to parts of the North and Midlands Home Information Packs being introducedAll social housing must meet the 'decent homes standard'100,000 homes in "carbon neutral" communities planned for old industrial sitesNew HomeBuy scheme enables social tenants, key workers and other first time buyers to buy share of a homeGOVERNMENT HOUSING POLICIES Housing market renewal scheme to restore sustainable communities to parts of the North and Midlands Home Information Packs being introducedAll social housing must meet the 'decent homes standard'100,000 homes in "carbon neutral" communities planned for old industrial sitesNew HomeBuy scheme enables social tenants, key workers and other first time buyers to buy share of a home
The National Trust has plans to challenge new developments and intervene in planning inquiries, even if it is not directly involved with the land being targeted for development.The National Trust has plans to challenge new developments and intervene in planning inquiries, even if it is not directly involved with the land being targeted for development.
The move echoes the earliest origins of the organisation, which was partly inspired by an unsuccessful 19th century campaign to preserve for public use fields around Swiss Cottage in north-west London.The move echoes the earliest origins of the organisation, which was partly inspired by an unsuccessful 19th century campaign to preserve for public use fields around Swiss Cottage in north-west London.
The National Trust has 3.5m members, making it one of Europe's biggest membership organisation.The National Trust has 3.5m members, making it one of Europe's biggest membership organisation.
It owns some 250,000 hectares of countryside and 700 miles of British coastline.It owns some 250,000 hectares of countryside and 700 miles of British coastline.
The government said Sir William's analysis is flawed and that he did not fully understand the planning restrictions that are in place to protect green-belt land. The government said Sir William's analysis was flawed and that he did not fully understand the planning restrictions in place to protect green-belt land.