I have strong affiliations with CPRE and other environmental lobbies but this is my personal viewpoint.

  The South East where I live earns such a high proportion of the nation's wealth that it has to be sustained. However it is overheating so further unmanaged growth is going to have an adverse effect unless it is properly managed by HMG and SEEDA.

  All the towns and villages in my area have had lines drawn and agreed around the limits of all our settlements. Building outside these lines is not permitted.

  As a general rule the lands outside these perimeters are either Green Belt, AONB or land adjoining GB. Brownfield and green sites within the settlements are rare and redevelopment is strongly resisted by local people and their elected representatives. The residential value of these developable spaces are in the £ millions per acre.

  Yet residents in these areas cry out for affordable homes for their children and for the key workers in our community who are on modest incomes.

  The only way forward that makes sense to me and that offers a chance of success is as follows:

  1.  Get the local populace to agree the need for affordable housing and to accept where this might be located within their area.

  2.  Acquire chosen brownfield or damaged greenfield sites outside the settlement perimeter either by compulsory purchase or by trading planning consent to build against a fair price to the farmer or developer for the land purchase.

  3.  Build new houses with a Housing Association.

  4.  Houses to be on a permanent rented register.

  5.  Design the houses in the local vernacular with variations of style and accommodation. (Not to repeat the poor designs of post war council housing).

  I feel certain that local people would accept change and loss of green/brown land if they saw a real advantage to their community, its social mix and the opportunity to keep village shops, schools and pubs open.

  Many of our new houses have been poor in design and layout and this has hardened local residents' minds against accepting additional housing in their attractive village or town.

  Some housing developers have produced really thoughtful new housing developments in Essex knowing that good design makes for a quick sale. With access to cheaper land it should be possible to do the same for affordable housing and in a way that achieves acceptance.

  The responsibility for providing affordable housing has been passed to the Local Authority in PPG11, the level of local government with the bluntest teeth for achieving this.

  HMG must put its weight behind these initiatives taking the local population and Councils with them.

  Everyone is aware of the needs for affordable housing but it has to be affordable in perpetuity.

John Thorpe CEng MICE