We question the basis of the Government's predictions

John Hoare - CPRE chairman for Yorkshire and the Humber

PLANS to build almost half a million new homes in Yorkshire and the Humber in the next twenty years are based on "unproven" economic forecast and would "put a huge strain on the region," says the Campaign to Protect Rural England.

The Government is basing its estimates on projected growth figures in both jobs and population which are "unproven" and to build 22,140 new homes every year for two decades would "pose a threat to the environment and quality of life."

New buildings pose a threat

One of the areas most under threat are the green belts around Leeds and Bradford which lie on the fringes of the Yorkshire Dales National Park in Wharfedale and Airedale, a prospect of particular concern to the CPRE which was found 80 years ago to fight urban sprawl.

The proposals would cause 4,500 houses to be built in the Green Belt, say officials.

John Hoare, CPRE chairman for CPRE Yorkshire and the Humber comments: 'We question the basis of the Government's predictions. There is ample land already allocated for house building for at least five years ahead and builders hold large land banks.

"We challenge the idea that local authorities should be forced to allocate land now to meet possible demand 20 years ahead instead of regularly reviewing and updating their plans, as they do now, according to changing circumstances, and we fear the environmental consequences in terms of damage to the countryside if these proposals go ahead."