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Housing design audit

7th February 2021

CPRE with Place Alliance has now published the results of a national audit of new housing in England. For countryside campaigners the results are particularly shocking as the proportion of ‘poor’ schemes was greatest for greenfield and rural sites.

Over 53% of rural housing schemes were found ‘poor’ whereas 12-16% were found ‘poor’ in urban areas. Public transport was one of the least successful design considerations and in many areas the country continues to provide car reliant dormitories.

While good design is possible everywhere, too much of it, especially in rural England, is far too poor and fails the countryside. It harms it twice, first by the loss of the open countryside and secondly by the poor outcomes which follow.

Read a summary of the findings here.

Housing Audit for England Jan 2020