Countryside campaigners have slammed the Government for accepting recommendations for a new major road development, calling it a "devastating blow" to local democracy and the countryside.
The Government accepted recommendations from the National Infrastructure Commission to develop the Oxford-Cambridge Arc, despite no formal public consultation, environmental assessment or parliamentary enquiry.
The National Infrastructure Commission has recommended a million new houses in the Arc by 2050, a million new jobs, and the Oxford-Cambridge Expressway – a new major road.
The expressway, with options to pass either west or east of Oxford, is expected to take up to 40 minutes off the journey between the A34 south of Oxford and the M1.
However, the Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE) has previously highlighted how the new development will lead to "unsustainable" urban sprawl, which will in turn "threaten unspoilt countryside".
The CPRE has now stressed the need for a full public consultation on the proposals, and not one limited to ‘local partners’.
Paul Miner, head of strategic plans and devolution at the group, said: "That the government has accepted the NIC’s recommendation for growth in the Oxford-Cambridge Arc, without formal public consultation or an environmental assessment, is a devastating blow for local democracy and the countryside.
"It seems the government remains wedded to its 'growth at all costs' approach. Despite clear commitments to new houses and a new road, the Government has made only vague statements on housing design and levels of affordable housing, with no assurances that the Arc will be an example of sustainable development."
Mr Milner added: "It is imperative that a Strategic Environmental Assessment is conducted. The assessment must look at the impacts of both the proposed 1 million homes and major new road on the countryside, people’s health and well-being, and climate change in a holistic manner."
CPRE are now calling for a parliamentary inquiry into the proposals, a planning process with local involvement, an Arc-wide commitment to high standards of affordable housing provision and design, commitments for protection and improvement of the environment, and a focus on improvements to public transport, not a new road.
