MPs have warned that brownfield land in South East England cannot accommodate both employment and housing development demand in the region and have thrown their weight behind calls for green belt reviews.
The Commons South East Committee inquiry into Housing in the South East accepted the "broad principle" of brownfield-first but accepted the view of house builders that "easy options" for brownfield housing had been used up in much of the region and that the brownfield targets could be causing loss of employment land.
The MPs were less impressed by evidence from many local authorities and others that house builders are building out greenfield sites during the recession and leaving costlier brownfield sites alone.
They accepted that existing green belt boundaries should generally be retained but recommended reviews in areas of great pressure such as south of Oxford.
"There are advantages to the green belt policy and it is undeniable that is has helped to retain the rural character of large areas of the region which otherwise would have become overwhelmed by urban sprawl in the last 50 years," says the report.
"However, it was designed for a different time, and it is now working against the ideal of sustainable communities which hope to encourage people to work, rest and play in the same local area."
The Committee accepted that the regional strategy should "engage" with the landscape and environmental assets of the region, but had little else to say in response to concerns and most of its work lay in accepting arguments for raw housing numbers and more affordable homes.
The Campaign to Protect Rural England said providing 654,000 new homes in 20 years would be a huge challenge and maintaining green belt land essential.
"CPRE is pleased to note the desire to produce sustainable communities, but is concerned lest the report leads to yet further pressures in our already over-crowded region," said South East director Edward Dawson.
"Improved design, affordability and sustainability should be the key watch words for the future."
