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Regeneration Britain

In the times of a worrying economy, local councils look increasingly to reclaiming abandoned spaces. But are all brown field sites suitable for redevelopment?

Greg Clark defends reforms to the current system Mr Clark told the BBC it was “absolutely crucial” for the government to simplify planning processes so that homes could be built and to encourage business.

“We’re building fewer homes than can accommodate young people that need to be housed, we’ve got a problem of homelessness, overcrowding, poverty as rents rise.

“For companies expanding or relocating they need a new building and it’s crucial that when they’re thinking of Britain as a place to relocate they know they won’t have to wait years with vast expense and uncertainty.”

The housing minister denied there would be any backtracking on the plans, despite his agreement to hold talks.

He said it was “quite right” to consult because of the extent of the changes, and invited opponents to be very specific about any concerns.

“Let’s be forensic about this - if there are particular aspects or sentences that you don’t think express clearly enough the protections that are there, then let’s talk about it.

Planning minister Greg Clark said the changes in England were “absolutely crucial” but he also agreed to talk to opponents of the proposals.

Campaigners say they fear excessive development under the Draft National Planning Policy Framework.

The plan, published in July, He said “particular aspects” streamlines policy that is curcould be addressed if groups rently more than 1,000 pages such as the National Trust felt down to just 52 and features they were unclear. a presumption of “sustainable development”.

Shadow communities minister Jack Dromey said he The Department for Commuwelcomed the government’s nities and Local Government willingness to talk. says it intends to transform a system whose “volume and Mr Clark said the government complexity have made planwould not back down on its ning increasingly inaccessible to all but specialists”. aim to boost house-building and encourage business.

But the National Trust said the plans “failed to protect the everyday places that local communities love” while the Campaign to Protect Rural England said the government needed “to listen and make further improvements or the consequences for the English countryside and the character of our towns and villages will be grave”.

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