INTRODUCTION

  CPREssex fully endorses the evidence submitted by the Council for the Protection of Rural England (CPRE). This statement covers only those matters directly relevant to Essex and should be read in conjunction with CPRE's evidence.

THAMES GATEWAY

  CPREssex totally supports the Government's aim to regenerate run-down urban areas and we welcome the regeneration of the Thames Gateway area. Thames Gateway is designated a Priority Area for Economic Regeneration (PAER) in RPG9 and it is economic regeneration and the pressing need for improved transport, by all modes, which are important it will also be necessary to improve the environment. The provision of housing in this area should be a secondary consideration and should concentrate on the provision of affordable housing.

  One of the great assets of this area is the Green Belt, which covers most of the undeveloped land. The Green Belt provides a setting for each settlement and prevents coalescence. It is vital for improvement to the environment that the Green Belt is maintained. Redevelopment should take place on brownfield sites in accordance with PPG3.

STANSTED

  Several documents refer to the need for housing of a new settlement "at Stansted." CPREssex considers that there are good reasons why development should not take place here:

—  current plans by Stansted Airport Ltd for expansion of Stansted Airport, up to 25mppa, categorically state that there would be no need for extra housing as the result of the expansion;

—  the London-Stansted-Cambridge Sub-regional Study refers to this area as the central rural belt and regards the area between Harlow and Cambridge as an area of considerable landscape and natural resources. The Study concludes that the area around Stansted Airport has limited capacity to accommodate major development and that the M11 is primarily a corridor of movement with significant constraints along its central, rural section;

—  the Government's aim is to regenerate existing urban area. If this aim is to succeed, it is important that the redevelopment take place of brownfield sites as set out in PPG3. Resources for regeneration in the M11 corridor must be concentrated in the priority area for regeneration between Harlow and Stansted;

—  creating a new settlement "at Stansted" would recreate the problems experienced by people who live close to Heathrow or Gatwick. Yet more people would be exposed to noise and air pollution. It would be irresponsible to continue the mistakes of the past for future generations.