Released on: March 22, 2008, 1:08 am

Press Release Author: Jim watson

Industry: Real Estate

Press Release Summary: In a week when much attention has been paid to the issue of
eco-homes, including the public backing given to them by ex-deputy prime minister
John Prescott at the Chartered Institute of Housing\'s south-east annual conference
and exhibition in Brighton, the question of building and house prices in the country
has reared its head again.

Press Release Body: In a week when much attention has been paid to the issue of
eco-homes, including the public backing given to them by ex-deputy prime minister
John Prescott at the Chartered Institute of Housing\'s south-east annual conference
and exhibition in Brighton, the question of building and house prices in the country
has reared its head again.

For those looking to ensure that rural areas are well stocked with affordable, as
well as green homes, this is a great opportunity. Gideon Amos, chief executive of
the Town and Country Planning Association, said: \"The eco-towns initiative provides
the opportunity to marry the social need for more affordable housing and community
infrastructure with the environmental and economic issues associated with housing
growth, such as sustainable public transport, protection of biodiversity and low and
zero-carbon energy provision.\"

Yet such lofty ideals appear to be lost on some. Today the Campaign to Protect Rural
England (CPRE) released the results of a survey on public views about the
government\'s housing plans. The poll, conducted by ICM, found people to be
apparently split down the middle on the issue of government housing plans. 53 per
cent were against the plan to build three million new homes by 2020. 46 per cent
thought such developments would have a negative impact on communities and 50 per
cent believed that landowners and developers would be the principal beneficiaries of
such plans.

Another finding of the survey revealed clearer support, with 77 percent believing a
higher priority should be given to bringing unoccupied homes back into use, while
half also thought more concentration on brownfield building should be undertaken.

CPRE senior planner Kate Gordon concluded: \"This survey shows that the public would
show more sympathy towards the government\'s proposals if housebuilding was
accompanied by strong measures to tackle urban dereliction and bring back into use
empty properties.\"

The finding about empty homes will find plenty of supporters, not least among the
Empty Homes Agency. Addressing the aforementioned Chartered Institute of Housing
event, policy advisor Henry Oliver said the south-east had 80,000 homes it could
bring back to use, the institute reported.

However, those looking to provide homes in the country have reacted fiercely against
the CPRE findings. Accusing the CPRE of being bananas, Home Builders Federation
executive chairman Stewart Baseley explained this was an acronym by saying: \"The
CPRE\'s poll shows them reverting to type - Build Absolutely Nothing Anywhere Near
Anyone,\" adding that the body had ignored the needs of those unable to get
affordable homes in its \"plea to protect the haves against the have-nots\".

Similarly, Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors public policy officer James
Rowlands accused the body of \"pandering to vested interests\" and said while bringing
old homes back into use and brownfield building had a part to play, much of the
solution to keeping house prices down and offering first-time buyers affordable
homes was green field building.

Such responses may be interpreted as shooting the messenger, given that
they were a reflection of what people had told the pollsters. Nonetheless, it
appears there is a clear determination in many sectors of the housing industry that
to ensure house prices are affordable to first-time buyers, new development will
have to go ahead in the country. Besides which, with many plans being apparently
opposed by around half those polled, that may suggest the other half remains in
favour.

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